The Conservative Party has lost the 2024 UK General Election with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak conceding defeat and taking responsibility for the loss. Sunak admitted during a speech on July 5th that he had already congratulated Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the winning party, the Labour Party.
According to the Associate Press, the British people have delivered a sobering verdict with the results which are trickling in. As of writing, Labour has won over 326 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons, making them the majority party. A mandate like this comes with a great responsibility the Labour leader added and that his party’s task now is nothing less than renewing the ideas that hold the country together.
Meanwhile, The Guardian had revealed in an exit poll that Labour were expecting to win by a landslide victory with Starmer’s party set to win 410 seats, as compared to the Conservatives’ 131 seats. The Liberal Democrats were likely to become the third biggest party with an expected 61 seats. Additionally, Reform UK are expected to take 13 seats, the Scottish National party 10, Plaid Cymru four and the Greens two.
Sunak said: “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.” Meanwhile, Starmer told supporters in central London shortly after Sunak’s speech that “change begins now.”
The electoral outcome comes as a shock to Britons after Sunak won a massive majority in the previous elections. The results have been attributed to rising dissatisfaction in the incumbent government’s handling of the economy, education and social care. A massive turnout of younger voters, particularly students, could be seen as the biggest influencer in affecting the election’s outcome
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