Keir Starmer’s Labour Party is set to win Britain’s general election by a landslide, ending a 14-year era of Conservative rule, according to a major exit poll. The poll, conducted by Ipsos for the BBC, ITV, and Sky, forecasts Labour securing 410 seats, while the Conservatives will drop to just 131 seats. This shift marks a significant rejection of the ruling party by Britain’s electorate.
The votes are being counted, with Starmer expected to replace Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister on Friday. Although the results are slightly less dramatic than some pollsters predicted during the campaign, they indicate a severe collapse for the Tories since their 2019 landslide victory under former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The Conservative Party has faced internal turmoil and scandals, leading to its current decline.
Starmer’s disciplined campaign, centered on the promise of “Change,” resonated with voters, contrasting with the Conservatives’ inability to address public dissatisfaction. The Liberal Democrats are projected to win 61 seats, positioning them as the third-strongest party in Westminster. Reform UK, a right-wing populist group, is forecast to secure 13 seats, while the Green Party is expected to win two seats.
Starmer, a former barrister who became Labour leader in 2020, has moved the party towards the center and pledged to revitalize public services while maintaining fiscal discipline. His anticipated victory provides a counterpoint to the rise of populist sentiment across Europe. Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, has attracted disillusioned Conservative voters with an anti-migration stance, while the Tories have lost centrist support in affluent southern regions to the Liberal Democrats.
Although Starmer’s projected seat count falls short of Tony Blair’s 1997 landslide, he is expected to command a strong parliamentary majority. Meanwhile, the Conservative Party faces an internal battle, with right-wing members courting Farage’s bloc and moderates seeking to reposition the party in the political center.
On foreign policy, the transition of power is not expected to bring significant changes. Starmer has committed to maintaining Britain’s support for Ukraine and has called for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict, advocating for the return of Israeli hostages held by the militant group.
