Labour have won the 2024 UK General Election following a landslide victory. The result means that they now have a healthy majority in the House Of Commons which will help them push through any measures that they’d like to put in place. The result was also the Conservatives worst ever election defeat and show how unhappy the general public are with the way the country is being run. At a time when prices for different goods and services are rising to unaffordable rates, measures have to be put in place to ensure that people can afford a more comfortable standard of living.
All the polls were pointing to a sizable Labour victory but that has now been put in to context by the party now having over four hundred seats in the House Of Commons. This equates to a huge swing of over two hundred. This can be seen as their biggest win since Tony Blair came to power in 1997. The election result brings fourteen years of Tory rule to an end in which there have been several changes of Prime Minister including David Cameron, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and now Rishi Sunak.
During an eventful day which had seen results from different areas of the country coming in through the night, Labour had regained many of the red wall seats which they had lost to the Tories during the last election. The press had gathered at Downing Street to catch the outgoing Prime Minister and Chancellor leaving for the final time. There was quite a long wait as they said good bye to the different members of staff they had worked with during their time in office.
First Chancellor Jeremy Hunt left number eleven Downing Street with his family and dog. They got in to their car and left through the Downing Street gates. A while later outgoing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak came out to the podium with his wife Akshata Murty to give a short speech of how they thought their time in office had gone and to say good bye to the country.
In the speech Mr Sunak apologised for the Conservatives defeat to Labour and stated that he had given the job his all.
Mr Sunak stated: “Following this result I will step down as party leader – not immediately, but once the formal arrangements for selecting my successor are in place.
“It is important that after 14 years in government the Conservative Party rebuilds, but also that it takes up its crucial role in opposition professionally and effectively.”
He then travelled to Buckingham Palace to tender his official resignation to the king.
Earlier Mr Sunak apologised to Conservative candidates who had lost their seats, as he held onto his own Richmond and Northallerton constituency.
Speaking at Northallerton leisure centre after his result came in, Mr Sunak said: “The British people have delivered a sobering verdict tonight, there is much to learn… and I take responsibility for the loss.
“To the many good, hard-working Conservative candidates who lost tonight, despite their tireless efforts, their local records and delivery, and their dedication to their communities. I am sorry.”
Key figures within the party lost their seats, including former Prime Minister Liz Truss, Commons leader Penny Mordaunt, Justice Secretary Alex Chalk and former minister Sir Jacob-Rees Mogg.
Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats made great gains to win 71 seats and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage won a seat in Parliament at his eighth attempt.
Overall Reform UK won four seats, with the Green Party also being victorious in the same number.
New Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will now set about forming a new cabinet to help run the country. There is much anticipation to see who will be given what job and be in charge of what areas of the country.
