Labour Party sweeps to power in UK, Rishi Sunak concedes defeat: 10 points

In a historic turn of events, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak conceded defeat on Friday as the Conservative Party faced one of its worst election results. The Keir Starmer-led Labour Party surged towards a landslide victory in the UK general election.

UK General Election Results 2024: 10 key points to note after historic verdict

- The Labour Party secured enough seats to claim a majority in the UK Parliament, poised to form the next government. With an estimated 160-seat majority in the House of Commons, Labour's win marks a seismic shift in British politics.

- The Conservative Party, led by Rishi Sunak, suffered a crushing defeat after 14 years in power, ending his premiership merely 20 months after his induction amidst political turbulence.

- Rishi Sunak, acknowledging the loss, stated, "I take responsibility for the defeat. To the numerous dedicated Conservative candidates who lost despite their hard work and local commitments, I am deeply sorry."

- In some good news for Rishi Sunak, he retained his Richmond Northallerton seat.

- Rishi Sunak became the Conservative Party leader on Diwali in October 2022, stepping into 10 Downing Street as the youngest British Prime Minister in over two centuries and the nation's first non-white leader.

- Britain's outgoing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will make a statement in Downing Street at around 0930 GMT (3 pm IST) before meeting with King Charles to formally resign.

- The newly elected Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer will then meet with Charles at Buckingham Palace before making a speech in Downing Street.

- Addressing a victory rally in London early on Friday (local time), Starmer said, "Change begins now," adding that having "a mandate like this comes with a great responsibility".

- While the initial exit poll predicted 410 seats for Labour, the final tally is expected to be around 405, with the Conservatives plunging to 154 seats. The Liberal Democrats also emerged as significant winners, projected to secure 56 seats. Meanwhile, the Scottish National Party (SNP) saw a decline, losing seats to Labour.

- Nigel Farage finally secured a seat after eight attempts, bringing his anti-immigration Reform UK party three seats in the Commons. This development is poised to be a major talking point in the post-election landscape.

(With inputs from PTI, Reuters)

READ | 'I am sorry': PM Rishi Sunak makes first statement after Keir Starmer's Labour Party sweeps UK election