UK: Labour back in power after 14 years; Starmer is next PM

THE UK saw a change of guard after 14 years as Keir Starmer's Labour Party scored a massive victory in the general election that took place on Thursday (4), defeating outgoing prime minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party which was in power since 2010.

The Labour crossed the majority mark of 326 in the 650-member House of Commons. The Tories, who saw five prime ministers in their ruling period, could win just 60 seats at the time of writing the report.

Sunak, the UK's first premier of Indian origin, conceded defeated to say, "Today, power will change hands in a peaceful and orderly manner, with goodwill on all sides. That is something that should give us all confidence in our country's stability and future." Addressing his supporters in his constituency of Richmond and Nothernallerton which he managed to win, the 44-year-old added, "I am sorry. I take responsibility for the loss."

Read: UK poll: For British Indians, pride in Sunak identity second best to cost-of-living crisis?

Starmer, a former human rights lawyer, was set to take up the office later on Friday (5). In his speech, he said, "Tonight people here and around the country have spoken, and they're ready for change. The change begins right here."

Labour's victory was no surprise as all surveys put it much ahead of the Tories ahead of the elections. The official election exit poll had predicted it to win 410 seats, the most since Tony Blair's landslide win in 1997. Only one exit poll prediction has gone wrong in the UK's last six elections.

Read: Keir Starmer: The human rights lawyer who engineered a new Labour

Sunak called for the snap election in late May as he tried to cash in on falling inflation and reduction in net migration. He also tried to convince the voters that opting the Labour would result in higher taxes. His gamble left many surprised but the outgoing prime minister's hope that the gap with the opponents would narrow was left unfulfilled.

Sunak had taken over the reins at a time when UK politics was going through a turmoil. His predecessor Liz Truss had quit after less than two months in office after Boris Johnson stepped down. The result of this election shows that he could do little to save the sinking ship.