Keir Starmer has been inaugurated as the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom following a resounding victory by the Labour Party in the general election, ending the Conservative Party's 14-year rule under Rishi Sunak. The Labour Party easily crossed the 326-seat threshold required in the 650-seat Parliament, leading Sunak to concede defeat.
Immediately after meeting with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace, the 61-year-old Starmer assumed his role as the 58th Prime Minister of Britain. In a statement, Sunak, who retained his parliamentary seat, acknowledged the public's anger and accepted responsibility for his party's loss.
As of now, results from more than half of the constituencies have been declared, showing Labour winning 412 seats, a substantial lead over the Conservatives who secured only 120 seats—a steep drop from their 365 seats in the 2019 election. The Liberal Democrats obtained 71 seats, the Scottish National Party (SNP) captured nine seats, and the right-wing Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, won in four constituencies.
Upon officially taking office as the UK's Prime Minister, Starmer addressed the public, promising to utilize the mandate given by the people to bring about change. He emphasized his commitment to restoring service and respect in politics, reducing the era of noisy performance, and uniting the country. "You have given us a clear mandate, and we will use it to deliver change. To restore service and respect to politics. End the era of noisy performance. Tread more lightly on your lives. And unite our country," he declared in his inaugural speech.
Starmer, accompanied by his wife Victoria Starmer, reiterated his intentions to start working immediately, inviting the public to join in the mission of national renewal. He emphasized the urgency of the work ahead, stating, "Our work is urgent, and we will begin it today."
Rishi Sunak, addressing voters outside the Prime Minister's office in Downing Street, expressed his disappointment and acknowledged the clear signal from the public that the government must change. He took responsibility for the defeat, apologizing to the Conservative candidates and campaigners who worked hard but did not achieve success.
Starmer swiftly announced his ministerial team after taking office. Rachel Reeves has been appointed the Finance Minister, marking her as the first female to hold the position, while Angela Rayner has been named Deputy Prime Minister. Other key appointments include David Lammy as Foreign Minister, John Healey as Defence Minister, and Yvette Cooper as Home Secretary, overseeing domestic security and policing.
Despite his overall victory, Starmer won his seat in north London with a reduced majority. Reflecting on the election results, he stated that the voters have spoken and are ready for change, emphasizing that change begins within the community.
Labour's landslide victory is attributed to widespread dissatisfaction with the Conservative government's handling of the economy and internal party conflicts. Additionally, Nigel Farage's Reform UK party siphoned off Conservative votes with its strong anti-immigrant stance. Farage, on his eighth attempt, won a seat in the pro-Brexit town of Clacton, bolstered by his prominent role in advocating for Britain's exit from the European Union and his anti-immigrant policies.
Among the notable reactions, former Justice Minister Robert Buckland criticized his party for engaging in "performance art politics" and lacking discipline under Sunak’s leadership. Senior Tory Andrea Leadsom echoed these sentiments, arguing that the party had lost its conservative essence and was too focused on "woke" issues.
Senior Labour politicians, including Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, commended Starmer for leading the party to the brink of power. Bridget Phillipson, Labour’s shadow education secretary, delivered the first victory speech of the night, highlighting the British people's choice for Keir Starmer’s leadership.
Exit polls had predicted Labour would secure 410 seats in the House of Commons, giving them a commanding majority. The Conservative Party was expected to take 131 seats, and the Liberal Democrats were projected to win 61 seats, an improvement from their 2019 performance. Nigel Farage's Reform UK was expected to win 13 seats.
