Labour inflicts drastic defeat on Conservatives
The opposition Labour Party of Starmer wins the Parliament election in Britain with a significant margin. Starmer, who is 61 years old, is expected to become the successor of Prime Minister Sunak. Sunak's Conservative Party suffered a heavy defeat after 14 years in power.
The opposition Labour Party has achieved a landslide victory in the British Parliament election. Although not all constituencies have been counted, the party led by Keir Starmer can expect to win 410 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons, according to the exit polls published by several British broadcasters. A simple majority of 326 seats is required for an absolute majority in the House.
The Conservative Party of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak suffered a significant defeat with only 131 seats. This is their worst defeat since the beginning of the 20th century, and they were decisively rejected - "wiped out," as British media put it. It is possible that Sunak may lose his constituency - Richmond and Northallerton - and fail to secure re-entry into Parliament. The British House of Commons is made up of constituency winners.
According to the exit polls released immediately after the polling stations closed at 10:00 p.m. local time (21:00 p.m. CET), the Liberal Democrats could hope for 61 seats in the new House. The anti-immigration Reform UK party of Nigel Farage gained 13 seats in the first-past-the-post election.
Labour was predicted to win a historic victory even before the election. In the surveys, they had reached at least 430 of the total 650 House of Commons seats.
Labour stands for a return to seriousness
After years marked by Brexit, Corona, economic crisis, and numerous scandals, it seems that the British women and men are longing for a change. During the 14 years of Tory rule, they had experienced a total of five conservative prime ministers - in 2022, there were three within four months. Sunak has been Prime Minister since October 2022.
The Conservatives primarily conducted a negative campaign, warning of tax increases under a Labour government and announcing a tougher stance on issues such as migration and security. Labour leader Starmer, on the other hand, campaigned for a return to seriousness in British politics, promising long-term economic growth and presenting himself above all as a servant of the country. "Country first, then politics," he emphasized repeatedly.
Faster government change
Given the clear defeat of the Conservatives, Sunak is expected to resign as Prime Minister as early as Friday and submit his resignation to King Charles III. Shortly thereafter, the monarch could invite Starmer to form the next British government. Starmer's next stop will then be the Prime Minister's office at 10 Downing Street, where he will give his first speech and appoint his ministers.
For the 61-year-old Starmer, who only began his political career nine years ago and previously worked as a lawyer, this is a remarkable rise. Sunak, on the other hand, is the first serving British Prime Minister to be defeated in a parliamentary election.
The Tory government, led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, experienced a heavy defeat in the election, with the Conservatives projected to secure only 131 seats. This defeat brings an end to their 14-year tenure in power, which saw five different conservative leaders. In contrast, the Labor Party, under the leadership of Keir Starmer, is expected to gain a significant majority with 410 seats, marking a clear defeat for the Conservatives.
