Keir Starmer : With far-right politics on the rise in France, the United Kingdom has decisively moved in the opposite direction. Official election results on Friday revealed a landslide victory for the center-left Labour Party, marking its first triumph in 19 years since Tony Blair’s leadership.
Historic Win for Keir Starmer
Incoming Prime Minister Keir Starmer celebrated the historic win, declaring early Friday, “Change begins now.”
“We can look forward again. Walk into the morning,” Starmer told his supporters before dawn. “The sunlight of hope, pale at first, but getting stronger through the day.”
Conservatives Face Unprecedented Defeat
The Conservative Party, known for leaders like Margaret Thatcher, Boris Johnson, and the incumbent Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, faced the worst defeat in its nearly 200-year history. Prominent figures such as former Prime Minister Liz Truss, Jacob Rees-Mogg, and Penny Mordaunt lost their parliamentary seats. Although Sunak retained his seat, he resigned as Conservative Party leader on Friday and apologized to the nation.
“I am sorry. I have given this job my all but you have sent a clear signal, that the government of the United Kingdom must change,” Sunak stated as he and his wife left 10 Downing Street for the last time. “I have heard your anger, your disappointment and I take responsibility for this loss.”
Reasons Behind the Conservative Collapse
After 14 years in power, the Conservatives faced voter backlash for numerous tumultuous events under their watch: Brexit, which a majority of Britons now regret; the Partygate scandal, where then-Prime Minister Johnson held parties during the COVID-19 lockdown and lied about them; and Liz Truss’s disastrous 2022 budget, which caused financial market turmoil. According to the United Nations, Britain now has more children living in poverty than any other wealthy country. Excluding London, the country is economically poorer than Mississippi.
Surge in Support for Smaller Parties
This election also disrupted the UK’s two-party system, with smaller parties gaining significant support. The Green Party had its most successful election night ever, securing a record four seats, up from one in the previous parliamentary session. The centrist Liberal Democrats also increased their representation in Parliament.
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Far-Right Gains Ground
The far-right, anti-immigrant Reform UK Party will enter Parliament for the first time, securing four seats, including one for its leader, Brexiteer Nigel Farage, who had previously lost seven times.
In Scotland, the previously dominant Scottish National Party, which advocates for Scottish independence, suffered a major defeat, with Labour taking most of its seats.
In Northern Ireland, the nationalist Sinn Fein party, which seeks independence from Britain and unification with the Republic of Ireland, won the most seats, becoming the region’s largest party in the UK Parliament.
Labour’s Mixed Night
Despite the overall success, Labour lost four former strongholds to independent, pro-Palestinian candidates. Anger over the war in Gaza led to these unexpected losses, slightly dampening an otherwise victorious night for the party.
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