In a dramatic turn of events, Rishi Sunak has resigned as Prime Minister following a significant defeat in the UK general election held on July 4, 2024. The Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer, secured a landslide victory, winning 412 seats compared to the Conservative Party’s 121 seats. This result marks a substantial shift in British politics, ending 14 years of Conservative rule.
Keir Starmer has officially been appointed as the new Prime Minister by King Charles III. The Labour Party’s win is comparable to the historic victory achieved by Tony Blair in 1997. This election also saw the rise of smaller parties, with the Liberal Democrats increasing their seat count to 71 and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK gaining representation in Parliament for the first time (POLITICO) (Wikipedia).
For more detailed coverage, you can check out articles from POLITICO and Wikipedia.
The 2024 UK general election has resulted in a significant political shift, with the Labour Party winning a decisive victory under the leadership of Keir Starmer. The election, held on July 4, 2024, saw Labour gain 412 seats, an increase of 210 seats from the previous election. This victory is one of the most substantial for Labour since the 1997 general election when Tony Blair led the party to power (POLITICO) (Wikipedia).
The Conservative Party, led by Rishi Sunak, suffered a severe defeat, losing 244 seats and ending up with just 121 seats in Parliament. This is the worst performance for the Conservatives in their history, and it marks the end of their 14-year tenure as the governing party. Sunak’s resignation follows this unprecedented loss, and he acknowledged that he has lost his grip on 10 Downing Street (Wikipedia).
Other notable outcomes from the election include:
- The Liberal Democrats increased their representation significantly, winning 71 seats, up from 11 in the previous Parliament.
- The Green Party won a record number of seats, with co-leaders Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay both securing positions in Parliament.
- Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, won seats in Parliament for the first time, with Farage and his chairman Richard Tice both being elected (POLITICO) (Wikipedia).
- The Scottish National Party (SNP) suffered heavy losses, losing about three-quarters of its seats to Scottish Labour, making Labour the largest party in Scotland once again (POLITICO).
The campaign focused heavily on public desire for change, with Labour maintaining significant leads in opinion polls leading up to the election. The election was also notable for being the first since Brexit and for requiring photographic identification for in-person voting (Wikipedia).