Sir Keir Starmer has been appointed the United Kingdom’s first Labour prime minister since 2010, following his party’s overwhelming victory in the British General Election on Thursday.
Labour secured a commanding parliamentary majority of 174 seats, marking a significant collapse in support for the Conservative Party.
In a formal ceremony at Buckingham Palace, Starmer was appointed by the King, succeeding Tory leader Rishi Sunak. In his farewell address outside No 10, Mr. Sunak expressed his commitment to continue leading the Conservative Party until a new leader is chosen. He acknowledged the public’s frustration and disappointment, extending an apology to the unsuccessful Tory candidates.
The Labour Party’s success can be attributed to a dramatic 20-point decline in Tory support, which saw the Conservatives lose 250 seats, bringing their total to a historic low of 121. This victory represents a remarkable turnaround for Labour, which had previously suffered its worst defeat in terms of seats in the 2019 election under former leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Labour’s victory, despite only a modest 2% increase in its share of the national vote, resulted in 412 seats won, with two constituencies yet to declare. This outcome is just shy of the historic 179-seat majority achieved by Tony Blair in 1997. A significant portion of Labour’s gains came from Scotland, where the party saw a 17-point surge in support, reclaiming its status as the largest party as the SNP’s representation plummeted from 48 to nine seats.
The election also saw notable successes for smaller parties. The Liberal Democrats achieved their best result in a century with 71 seats, and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK secured a breakthrough with four MPs.
Labour’s campaign focused on revitalizing the UK’s economic growth through reforms in the planning system and attracting more inward investment. Sir Keir is expected to start appointing his new cabinet on Friday afternoon, with the first meeting scheduled for Saturday.
This decisive victory signals a new chapter in British politics, with Labour poised to implement its vision for the country’s future.