Sir Keir Starmer has declared “change begins now” after winning a victory at the general election.
The Labour leader has secured the 326 seats required for a majority in the House of Commons – putting an end to 14 years of Conservative rule.
Outgoing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had conceded defeat moments before that number was reached, declaring at his election count: “The Labour Party has won this general election and I have called Sir Keir Starmer to congratulate him on his victory.”
Shortly afterwards, a gleaming Sir Keir told a crowd of supporters: “We did it, you campaigned for it, you fought for it, you voted for it and now it has arrived, change begins now.”
Sir Keir, who is on course for a landslide, said the UK is once again experiencing the “sunlight of hope”
“The sunlight of hope, pale at first but getting stronger through the day. Shining once again on a country with an opportunity after 14 years to get its future back.”
Follow general election results live
Results are still being counted, but the exit poll has put Labour on course to win 410 seats – more than double it won at the last election and giving it a majority of 170 in the House of Commons.
That is just shy of the historic the majority of 179 won in 1997 by Sir Tony Blair, Labour’s last elected prime minister.
The results have seen the nation firmly turn its back on the Tories, with the once dominant party reduced to just 131 MPs – its lowest number in history, the exit poll predicts.
Speaking after he held onto his seat in Richmond, a solemn-looking Mr Sunak said his party had faced a “difficult night” and he took full responsibility.
He said: “The British people have delivered a sobering verdict tonight.. and I take responsibility for the loss.
“To the many good, hardworking Conservative candidates who lost tonight… I am sorry.”
Other key moments from a dramatic night of results include:
• Several Tory cabinet ministers lost seats to Labour, including Grant Shapps and Penny Mordaunt;
• Others fell victim to the Lib Dem plan to “smash” the Tory Blue Wall, like Alex Chalk and Gillian Keegan;
• Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn held on to his seat as an independent;
• Reform UK leader Nigel Farage won a Commons seat at his eighth attempt;
• Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer defeated shadow culture secretary Thangam Debbonaire in Bristol Central;
• Labour’s shadow paymaster general Jonathan Ashworth lost his seat to an independent
Mr Sunak became the youngest prime minister of the modern era when he took over the Conservative Party in 2022.
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