After Labour’s victory, the Conservatives suffered their worst defeat since the beginning of the 20th century.
Labour won the general election by a wide margin. Labour secured 412 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons, more than the 326 seats needed to secure an absolute majority and form the sole British government.
The Conservatives suffered their worst result since the early 20th century. The centrist Liberal Democrats appear to be gaining strength, while the anti-immigration Reform UK party won its first electoral victory. Its leader, Nigel Farage, a staunch Brexit supporter, was elected to the British Parliament. In contrast, the Scottish separatists suffered a serious setback, winning only nine of Scotland’s 57 seats, down from 48.
The return of Labour
Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, is set to take up his post in Downing Street, ending 14 years of opposition by Labour after a resounding victory over the Conservatives in the general election. The election was also marked by a significant surge in the far right. The 61-year-old former human rights lawyer is expected to be tasked by King Charles III on Friday with forming a new government.
Britain’s new prime minister has promised a “national renewal” for the United Kingdom. “Our task is nothing less than to renew the ideas that unite our country,” he said in a speech as his party won an absolute majority in the next parliament. “I don’t promise you it will be easy,” he added.
Starmer has pledged to transform the country as he did with Labour, focusing on a methodical and pragmatic economic refocus. He aims to boost growth, revitalise public services, strengthen workers’ rights, reduce immigration and bring the UK closer to the rest of the European Union without reversing Brexit, a campaign taboo.
“Our national renewal is a task we must undertake with determination and unity,” Starmer said, stressing his commitment to tackling the significant challenges facing the country. His approach, characterised by careful planning and steady progress, promises to address the key issues that have plagued the UK for years, offering a hopeful vision for the future.
Conservative ministers ousted in UK election
In a stunning series of defeats, several key Conservative ministers lost their seats in the last UK general election. Leading the way was Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, who lost his north London constituency to a Labour candidate. She was quickly followed by Penny Mordaunt, the parliamentary relations minister and candidate to succeed former prime minister Boris Johnson in 2022, who also lost her seat.
In an unexpected turn of events, former Prime Minister Liz Truss, who spent 49 days in Downing Street, lost her seat in south-west Norfolk. The constituency, a Conservative stronghold since 1959, has now gone Labour.
Dozens of incumbent MPs chose not to run in the election, including notable figures such as former Prime Minister Theresa May. Conversely, several prominent Conservatives managed to retain their seats, including Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt, former Home Secretary Suella Braverman and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch. Badenoch, often mentioned as a potential future Conservative leader, is seen as a serious contender to succeed Rishi Sunak following the party’s defeat.
Unsurprisingly, Rishi Sunak has announced his resignation as leader of the Conservative Party. “The Labour Party has won this general election,” Sunak conceded. “The British people have delivered a clear verdict tonight (…) and I take responsibility for that defeat,” the Prime Minister added after being re-elected in his constituency of Richmond, Yorkshire.
Originally published in The European Times.
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