Keir Starmer is set to become the next British Prime Minister following a landslide victory for the Labour Party in the UK general election, ending the Conservative Party’s 14-year reign under Rishi Sunak. Labour comfortably surpassed the 326-seat threshold in the 650-seat Parliament, prompting Sunak to concede defeat. Speaking at a victory rally in London early Friday, Starmer declared, “Change begins now,” emphasizing the weight of responsibility that comes with such a mandate. He is scheduled to seek permission from King Charles III later today to form the new government. Sunak, who retained his parliamentary seat, acknowledged the electorate’s “sobering verdict” and took responsibility for the Conservatives’ substantial defeat. With results declared in more than half of the constituencies, Labour secured 409 seats, while the Conservatives trailed far behind with 120 seats—a sharp decline from their 365 seats in the 2019 election. The Liberal Democrats gained 71 seats, and the Scottish National Party won nine seats. Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, advocating Brexit, won in four constituencies.
