The UK Labour Party has swept to power in a historic election victory, ending over a decade of Conservative rule. Key points:
Kabul 24: Labour leader Keir Starmer will become the new Prime Minister, taking over from outgoing Conservative leader Rishi Sunak.
Labour is projected to win around 410 seats in the 650-seat House of Commons, a landslide victory. The Conservatives are expected to win only 144 seats, their worst performance in almost two centuries.
Starmer acknowledged the “great responsibility” that comes with this mandate, vowing to offer the “sunlight of hope” and tackle the country’s deep-seated economic and social challenges.
The election result marks a significant shift in British politics, as voters punished the Conservatives for 14 years of austerity, Brexit turmoil, scandals, and economic stagnation.
The rise of the hard-right Reform UK party led by Nigel Farage also contributed to the Conservatives’ downfall by siphoning away a considerable share of their vote.
Meanwhile, the centrist Liberal Democrats staged a notable comeback, establishing themselves as the third-largest party in Parliament.
Starmer faces the daunting task of reinvigorating a dispirited nation and addressing deep-seated issues like economic malaise, distrust in institutions, and a fraying social fabric.
