UK Labour Party leader Starmer says ‘people have spoken, they are ready for change’

LONDON

British Labour Party leader Keir Starmer said Friday morning that the people “have spoken and they are ready for change, for an end to performance politics and a return to politics as a public service.”

In his acceptance speech after being re-elected at Holborn & St Pancras, Starmer, who is set to become Britain’s new prime minister, said “change starts right here”.

Addressing his constituents, he said it was a “tremendous privilege to be re-elected to serve this constituency.”

Starmer thanked everyone who supported him during the election campaign and also paid “tribute to my fellow candidates who have volunteered for public service”.

“I promise you this: Whether you voted for me or not, I will serve every person in this constituency,” he said.

“The mothers I’ve spoken to who have lost their children to knife attacks, the retirees who can’t get the doctor’s appointments they desperately need, the local businesses that have fought so hard to keep their heads above water… I will speak for you, I will support you, I will fight alongside you every day.”

Labour Party leads vote count

According to an exit poll, Labour would win 410 seats in the House of Commons, while the Conservatives would hold 131.

With 400 of the 650 constituencies already declared, Labour has so far won 288 seats.

The Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats follow Labour with 56 and 35 seats respectively. Reform UK has won four seats so far, including the one won by party leader Nigel Farage in Clacton.

In Islington North, former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was elected as an independent candidate.

In a separate development, British Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has lost his parliamentary seat.

Voting in the snap election ended at 22:00 (21:00 GMT) and counting will continue throughout the night. Official results will be known once counting has been completed in all constituencies in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Starmer will replace Rishi Sunak as the new prime minister after the official results are announced.

Millions of voters across the UK cast their ballots to elect 650 MPs to the lower house of parliament.

The centre-right Conservatives have governed the country since 2010. Having won the last three general elections (2015, 2017 and 2019), the party is expected to win 131 seats.

The exit poll also suggests the Liberal Democrats will win 61 seats, Reform UK 13 and the Scottish National Party (SNP) 10, while independents and others will take 25 seats.

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