UK General Election 2024: Labour wins majority, Keir Starmer says “change begins now”

The Labour Party has won the 2024 UK General Election, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak conceding defeat and taking responsibility for the loss.

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British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak conceded defeat in a speech today morning (July 5) that his party, the Conservatives, have lost the election to the Labour Party led by Sir Keir Starmer. The Tory leader also said he had called Starmer to congratulate him on his victory.

According to the Associate Press, Sunak said that the British people have “delivered a sobering verdict” with the results, which are still trickling in. As of writing, Labour have won over 326 of 650 seats in the House of Commons, making them the majority party.

“I take responsibility for the loss,” he said. “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”, per the BBC. The Labour leader also said that “a mandate like this comes with a great responsibility” and that his party’s task now is “nothing less than renewing the ideas that hold our country together”.

Labour is set for a landslide victory, according to exit polls that were released shortly after 10pm yesterday (July 4), per The Guardian. It’s predicted that Labour will win 410 seats, as compared to the Conservatives’ 131 seats.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats are 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.

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