The counting of votes for the UK election continues on Friday, with the main opposition Labour Party securing an impressive victory. Ending a 14-year-wait, the country is set to welcome a Labour government. So far, Labour has won 405 seats while the incumbent Conservative Party has been victorious in just 111 of the announced results for 624 out of 650 seats.
The Liberal Democrats have so far won 60 seats; the Scottish National Party has taken seven; and Reform UK has claimed four. Meanwhile, the Green Party has secured a single seat thus far.
Discover the major updates from the UK elections:
The former British Prime Minister Liz Truss faced defeat in her West Norfolk seat. Truss briefly served as Prime Minister from September 2022 but resigned within just six weeks.
After the massive victory, Keir Starmer spoke to the media celebrating the party's milestone. 'We've made it happen. This is the campaign you waged, the fight you fought, the vote you cast, and now the results are before us all. It's the start of an era of transformation. To be honest, this is a different Labour Party, prepared to serve our country.'
Rishi Sunak has won his North England parliamentary seat with 47.5% of the votes in Richmond and Northallerton.
When Rishi Sunak took responsibility for the loss during the election results, YouTuber and independent candidate Niko Omilana held a sign with the letter 'L,' indicating the impending victory of the Labour Party, which he displayed to the press.
Source: aajtak
Prime Minster Rishi Sunak has conceded defeat amidst poor party performance in the general election, taking personal responsibility for the loss and congratulating Keir Starmer on the win.
Labour Party also hints at a decisive win in Scotland. According to sources, the party may clinch over 30 seats. Labour's Scottish leader, Anas Anwar, believes that the shift symbolizes an epoch of change and that their first objective will be to dismantle 14 years of Conservative governance, which has harmed the country. The pivotal work commences tomorrow, focusing on the 2026 Scottish Parliamentary election.'
Labour Party's leader, Keir Starmer, declared that voters have voiced their readiness for change, having also won his seat. With the party's overall victory, he is poised to become the next Prime Minister of the country.'
Early counts suggest Starmer's inevitable appointment as Prime Minister, with Sunak announcing his resignation as Prime Minister the following day amidst the probability of defeat.
Following the completion of voting, exit polls predicted a significant victory for the Labour Party. The BBC-Ipsos exit poll projected Labour, led by Keir Starmer, securing 410 seats, while Conservative Party, headed by the acting PM Rishi Sunak, anticipated gaining only 131 seats.
What numbers are required for a majority?
A majority government in the House of Commons, with 650 MPs, requires at least 326 seats. Following signs of defeat, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced his resignation.
If the exit poll forecasts translate into actual results, Labour could return to power with a commanding majority, making Keir Starmer potentially Britain's next Prime Minister. The vote count commenced immediately after the end of voting in the UK, but it will take a few more hours to determine the clear winner in the parliament consisting of 650 seats. Another survey agency, YouGov, predicts Labour winning 431 seats and foresees Conservative Party securing merely 102 seats. YouGov also has identified 89 close contest seats. The exit poll predictions point to the Conservatives' likely worst setback since 1906, when they won 156 seats. The Liberal Democrats are estimated to claim 72 seats, and the Reform UK Party is anticipated to secure 3 seats.
Conservative Party in power for past 14 years
Notably, the Conservative Party has been in power for the last 14 years. During this time, the United Kingdom witnessed five prime ministers. David Cameron became the PM following the Tories' victory in the 2010 general elections. He continued after the 2015 UK elections but had to relinquish his position in 2016. Theresa May then stepped in as Conservative prime minister until 2019. Boris Johnson served as the UK's premier before his interim departure, followed by Liz Truss who lasted just 50 days. Subsequently, Rishi Sunak took over as prime minister.
The significance of UK elections for India
India and Britain, both nations have been negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) for over two years, aiming to boost bilateral trade. Labour's resounding victory could alter the dynamics of ongoing FTA discussions. If the surveys prove accurate, the UK will join several other European nations in witnessing a shift in government following crises brought about by the COVID pandemic and Russia's incursion into Ukraine. The exit poll data suggest this trend may persist in the UK as well.
UK comprises: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland
The United Kingdom consists of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, and general elections apply to all these countries. The UK has a total of 650 constituencies, with 533 in England, 59 in Scotland, 40 in Wales, and 18 in Northern Ireland. However, it's important to note that each country within the UK has its government, and elections take place accordingly.
