Keir Starmer is poised to become Britain’s next prime minister, with his centre-left Labour Party expected to secure a substantial majority in the parliamentary elections, ending 14 years of Conservative rule by decisively defeating Rishi Sunak’s party.
With many results still pending from Thursday’s vote, Labour has already secured over 326 of the 650 parliamentary seats, with exit polls predicting around 410 seats in total. On a disastrous night for Sunak, the Conservatives have so far won only 70 seats and are on track for their worst performance in history, as voters reacted strongly to the cost of living crisis, deteriorating public services, and numerous scandals.
“Tonight, people across the country have spoken and they are ready for change, to end the politics of performance and return to politics as public service,” Starmer said after winning his seat in London. “The change starts here … You have voted. It is now time for us to deliver.”
Sunak admitted defeat, stating he had called Starmer to congratulate him on his victory. “Today power will change hands peacefully and orderly, with goodwill on all sides,” he said after retaining his seat. “There is much to learn and reflect on, and I take responsibility for the loss faced by the many hardworking Conservative candidates … I am sorry.”
Despite the decisive victory, polls indicate limited enthusiasm for Starmer or his party, as he assumes power during a period of significant national challenges. Britain’s tax burden is approaching post-World War II highs, net debt is nearly equal to the annual economic output, living standards have declined, and public services, particularly the NHS, are struggling.
Starmer has already had to temper some of Labour’s ambitious plans, including major green spending initiatives, while pledging not to increase taxes for “working people.”
Much of the damage to Conservative support was inflicted by the right-wing populist Reform UK party, led by Brexit advocate Nigel Farage, who campaigned heavily on immigration control.
Starmer has pledged to end the Conservatives’ controversial policy of deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda but faces pressure to address the influx of migrants arriving across the Channel in small boats.
Within the Conservative Party, the debate over its future direction has already begun, with some attributing the loss to a departure from centrist policies, while others blame Reform for attracting voters who felt the party had abandoned its traditional roots. Reform won four seats, with Farage finally securing a parliamentary seat on his eighth attempt and garnering more votes than the Conservatives in many areas.
“There is a significant gap on the centre-right of British politics, and my job is to fill it,” Farage said triumphantly. “This is just the first step of something that will astonish all of you.”
The rise of populist alternatives echoes similar trends in Europe, where far-right parties have been gaining ground. However, unlike in France, where Marine Le Pen’s National Rally recently achieved historic gains, the British electorate opted for a centre-left party to effect change.
Starmer has committed to improving relations with the European Union to resolve post-Brexit issues, though rejoining the EU is not on the agenda. He may also need to navigate relations with a potentially re-elected Donald Trump in the United States, while continuing strong support for Ukraine.
This election victory marks a dramatic turnaround for Starmer and Labour, which faced an existential crisis three years ago after a severe defeat in 2019. A series of Conservative scandals, particularly revelations of lockdown parties at Downing Street, eroded trust and support, leading to the party’s downfall. The brief and troubled tenure of Liz Truss further solidified the decline, leaving Sunak unable to reverse Labour’s lead in the polls.
Sunak’s decision to call an early election, with the Conservatives trailing Labour by 20 points, proved disastrous. “We deserved to lose. The Conservative Party seems exhausted and out of ideas,” said Ed Costello, chairman of Grassroots Conservatives. “But it’s not all Rishi Sunak’s fault. It’s Boris Johnson and Liz Truss who led the party to disaster. Rishi Sunak is just the fall guy.”