Absolute majority for the Labor Party
The Labor Party, led by Keir Starmer, has obtained an overwhelming absolute majority in the general elections held in the United Kingdom. This victory represents the worst defeat in history for the conservatives, who have governed for the past 14 years. With 632 of 650 seats already awarded, the Labor Party has won 408 seats, compared to 202 in the last legislature. This result puts the Labor Party on course for its best result since Tony Blair’s record 418 seats in 1997. Meanwhile, Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party has suffered an unprecedented crisis, winning just 115 seats to at the moment, compared to the 365 obtained in the 2019 elections, which were won by Boris Johnson with the promise to execute Brexit.
Results and participation
According to the latest data, the Labor Party has obtained 34% of the votes, while the Conservatives have obtained 23%. The total participation in the elections was approximately 60%. It should be noted that in the British electoral system, uninominal majority, the candidate of each constituency is voted for directly, and the candidate with the most votes in each of the 650 constituencies wins, regardless of the percentage of votes at the national level of each political formation.
Reactions and change of government
Keir Starmer, leader of the Labor Party, celebrated the victory and declared that “change starts now”. In his speech to his supporters, Starmer emphasized that the country now has “the opportunity to reclaim its future” and stressed the importance of regaining public trust. For his part, Rishi Sunak, leader of the conservatives, has recognized the victory of the Labor Party and has apologized for the poor results of his formation. Sunak has affirmed that the change of government will occur in a peaceful and orderly manner, and has expressed his confidence in the stability of the country and its future.
Other outstanding results
This election has also highlighted the decline of Scottish independence, with the Scottish National Party (SNP) losing its dominant position in Scotland. Also, Nigel Farage, leader of the right-wing populist Reform UK, has won a seat in the House of Commons after seven attempts. The Liberal Democrat Party, led by Ed Davey, has regained its position as the third parliamentary force after years of decline. In this election, Jeremy Corbyn, ex-leader of the Labor Party, has won a seat as an independent for the Islington North constituency.