Labour Triumphs in Historic Landslide Victory, Conservatives Face Record Losses in UK General Election

Survey results indicate a significant victory for Labour in the national vote

The survey indicates that Sir Keir Starmer's party is poised to secure a commanding majority of approximately 170 seats, as the Conservatives, under the leadership of Rishi Sunak, are projected to achieve their smallest number of seats ever.

Political correspondent @NifS

Friday, July 5, 2024, 3:

The Labour Party has secured a decisive win in the general election, bringing an end to 14 years of governance by the Conservatives, according to the exit poll.

According to a survey from Ipsos UK for Sky News, BBC, and ITV News, it appears that Sir Keir Starmer's party is poised to clinch a victory, projected to obtain around 410 seats, which would result in a decisive majority of 170 seats.

Currently, forecasts suggest that the Conservative Party will secure only 131 seats, a significant decrease from the 365 seats they won in the 2019 election, potentially marking the lowest number of seats the party has ever held.

It is anticipated that several high-ranking Conservative members will be ousted from their positions, among them Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, Defence Secretary Grant Shaps, and Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer.

The initial outcomes of the evening revealed that the incumbent ruling party fell to third position, overtaken by Reform UK, and also suffered seat losses to both the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats.

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Labour's vice leader Angela Rayner tempered expectations regarding the initial exit poll outcomes, indicating to Sky News that although the results seemed promising, the final tally was still far off.

She stated that Sir Keir has been remarkable in revamping the Labour Party and proposing a government plan that the nation can support.

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Before losing his Swindon South seat to Labour, conservative ex-justice secretary Sir Robert Buckland expressed that his party must acknowledge the magnitude of the anticipated loss and take lessons from it.

Speaking to Sky News, he said, "I ran for office in 1997 and I've experienced the harsh sting of loss firsthand. Now is not the moment for pointing fingers. Rather, it's crucial to examine the series of events that culminated in this overwhelming repudiation of the Conservatives."

Here is the projected seat count for each political party:

Labour leads with 410 seats, followed by the Conservatives holding 131. The Liberal Democrats have secured 61 seats, with Reform UK at 13. The SNP has won 10 seats, Plaid Cymru 4, and

The survey indicates that although the Labour Party has probably achieved the expected overwhelming win—more than doubling their previous count of 203 seats from five years earlier—they might not have reached the 179-seat majority that Tony Blair secured in 1997.

They could potentially secure a decisive victory with a smaller percentage of the vote than Jeremy Corbyn obtained in 2017.

The number of votes and seats secured by the Conservatives may drop to unprecedented lows, potentially dipping beneath the 156 seats they captured in 1906.

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According to exit polls, the Liberal Democrats are expected to significantly increase their number of seats from 11 to 61, a more than fivefold rise compared to their performance in the previous election.

Should the forecasts come to fruition, they will surpass the SNP to become the third biggest party in the Commons, with the SNP expected to drop from 48 seats in 2019 to merely 10.

Liberal Democrat chief Sir Ed Davey expressed his gratitude for the survey results, stating that this could be "our greatest achievement in a hundred years, due to our optimistic campaign centered on health and care."

SNP chief John Swinney affirmed that his party conducted an optimistic and spirited campaign, closely aligned with the principles held by Scots. Despite the anticipated outcomes, he expressed confidence, stating: "Scotland is eager to move on from this catastrophic Conservative administration, and I am sure that SNP supporters nationwide will facilitate this change."

According to exit polls, the emerging Reform party may surpass the SNP by securing an estimated 13 seats, with its leader Nigel Farage likely securing a victory in Clacton. However, predictions regarding the total seats won by the party remain tentative.

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To establish a majority administration in the House of Commons, a political party must secure a minimum of 326 seats.

It seems that the Conservative Party has experienced significant losses in areas where over a third of households are paying off a mortgage, possibly indicating the impact of Liz Truss's economic policies.

The Liberal Democrats have shown strong performance in constituencies where they were previously the runner-up to the Conservatives, especially in areas they controlled until 2015.

Discover further: Understanding exit polls: Are they reliable? Essential schedule for election result announcements.

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Mr. Sunak, who succeeded Ms. Truss as Prime Minister in October 2022, faced difficulties gaining traction in a general election campaign plagued by errors right from the beginning.

Analysts have raised concerns about the choice to have the Conservative leader declare the election during a heavy downpour, questioning not just the weather conditions but also the strategic timing. Although intended to unsettle the opposition, the announcement unexpectedly also left members of his own party unprepared.

Several gaffes in communication, such as touring the Titanic Quarter in Belfast clad in a life jacket, contributed to the perception that the Conservatives were engaged in a faltering campaign.

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A significant oversight occurred when Mr. Sunak prematurely departed from D-Day events in France to participate in a televised interview, an action for which he later apologized but continued to face persistent inquiries about in the following weeks.

As the campaign neared its end, the disclosure that one of Mr. Sunak's key advisors, together with several Conservatives, had wagered on when the election would occur added further strain to his team's efforts.

He had to withdraw his backing for those implicated in the scandal who are under investigation by the Gambling Commission.

Sky News offers real-time updates on the general election outcomes, featuring an acclaimed team of experts. Stay informed with immediate updates, along with insightful commentary and analysis that breaks down major events as they unfold.

Kay Burley will be hosting throughout the night from a fully immersive 360-degree studio, and come 7am Friday, Sophy Ridge will continue the coverage. They will be accompanied by a panel of experts, analysts, and politicians who will delve into and elucidate every detail.

For further information on viewing options and accessing our coverage, click here.

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