Labour Landslide Instals Sir Keir Starmer As UK’s New Prime Minister

The UK’s Labour Party, led by Sir Keir Starmer, has secured a decisive victory over the Conservative Party, bringing an end to their 14-year reign in British politics. 

Preliminary results indicate Labour has clinched over 400 seats, marking what could be the Tories’ most significant defeat in history.

Click and listen the full episode here:

So what will this new government mean for the UK’s future?

On today’s episode, The Briefing’s former Senior Producer, Eleanor Harrison-Dengate, currently on the ground in the UK, will unpack the results.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to resign as Conservative leader shortly.

The anticipated majority of 212 seats for Labour reflects a remarkable turnaround from the Conservatives’ previous dominance under Boris Johnson, who secured 365 seats in 2019.

“Today, Britain can begin a new chapter,” Sir Keir Starmer said in a statement before polling stations closed. 

Harrison-Dengate said the election results mark a significant shift in British politics, with Labour poised to govern under Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership.

“His biographer actually almost wanted to call his autobiography the politician. Because he’s just so not similar to the current politicians we have these days, people like Brosi Johnson or even Tony Blair,” Harrison-Dengate said.

“It’s summer in the UK, and they all wanna be in Greece. So you get this sense that basically they all were sort of taken a bit by surprise, which you didn’t expect to win, and they’re going to go and take this massive loss.”

The transition of power from the Conservatives to Labour comes amid ongoing economic challenges and high inflation, factors that have shaped public sentiment throughout the campaign. 

Voters anticipate keen interest in Labour’s policies regarding economic recovery and international relations, including its stance on key partnerships with Australia.

Subscribe to The Briefing, Australia’s fastest-growing news podcast on LiSTNR today. The Briefing serves up the latest news and deep dives on topics affecting you, all in under 20 minutes.