Keir Starmer's Labour Party is poised for a resounding victory in the UK general elections, marking a significant shift in British politics. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party faces a substantial setback, as early results indicate a landslide win for Labour. This outcome reflects a seismic realignment in the political landscape, with the Conservative Party struggling to maintain its footing.
Early Thursday morning, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's last-ditch efforts to sway voters appeared to have fallen short. The Conservatives had warned voters that choosing Labour would lead to higher taxes, but this strategy failed to resonate with the electorate. Led by Keir Starmer, Labour is currently ahead with 60 seats, while Sunak's party has secured only four. A party needs 326 seats in the 650-member House of Commons to achieve a majority.
The official election exit poll predicts Labour will win 410 seats, the highest since Tony Blair's 1997 landslide victory, with a projected majority of 170. Historically, only one exit poll in the last six UK elections has misjudged the outcome. Final results are expected by 11:30 am (IST).
Sunak's Conservatives are projected to plummet to 131 seats, marking their worst performance ever and likely resulting in the loss of several high-profile members of Parliament. Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats and Nigel Farage's populist Reform UK are also on track to make significant gains.
The election results underscore the failure of Sunak's gamble in calling for early elections in May, hoping to close the gap with Labour, which consistently led by approximately 20 points in opinion polls. The deficit persisted throughout what has been widely seen as an ineffective campaign.
Keir Starmer, the son of a toolmaker and a nurse, has promised a "decade of national renewal" following years of post-financial crash austerity measures, Brexit upheaval, and a cost-of-living crisis. Despite the resounding victory, Starmer faces considerable challenges ahead, including sluggish economic growth, strained and underfunded public services due to extensive cuts over the past fourteen years, and financial pressures on households.
For Sunak, the early trends suggest a defeat that has been anticipated for months. He has stated his intention to remain an MP even if he steps down as Tory leader, though some polls suggest he may not retain his seat.
The UK election results come at a time when Europe is broadly experiencing a right-wing populist surge. Last month's European elections saw a historic number of hard-right and far-right lawmakers elected to the European Parliament, causing significant political upheaval. France's President Emmanuel Macron recently called a snap parliamentary election after the far-right National Rally won the first round. Similarly, a government comprising far-right figures was formed in the Netherlands, and Italy is currently led by its most right-wing leader since World War II.
Despite this broader European trend, the UK has bucked the pattern by handing a decisive victory to the center-left Labour Party. However, the British right is far from defeated. The Conservative Party, despite its disappointing night, is set to perform better than some opinion polls had predicted. Nigel Farage's populist right-wing Reform UK is also expected to exceed polling expectations, with Farage himself likely to secure a parliamentary seat along with 12 colleagues.
Farage's political success, even without holding a parliamentary seat until now, highlights his influence. His presence in Parliament is expected to shift the Conservative Party further to the right. The splitting of the right-wing vote by Farage may have inadvertently bolstered Starmer's majority in Parliament.
Britain faces many of the same issues as other European countries, such as sluggish economies, high immigration, and rising energy prices. If Starmer falters as prime minister, the popular right could continue to capture the public's imagination, mirroring the rise of right-wing populism seen across Europe.
