UK Elections Highlights: Keir Starmer Takes Charge As PM After Meeting King Charles, Says 'Will Use Mandate To Deliver Change'

Keir Starmer, the Labour Party leader and new UK Prime Minister, on Friday vowed to change and rebuild the country.

"We did it," Starmer said in a victory speech. "Change begins now ... We said we would end the chaos, and we will, we said we would turn the page, and we have. Today, we start the next chapter, begin the work of change, the mission of national renewal and start to rebuild our country."

UK Elections Live:  Labour Party leader Keir Starmer arrived at the Buckingham Palace to meet King Charles. The King is expected to formally appoint him as the Prime Minister.

Britain's Keir Starmer arrived at Buckingham Palace for King Charles to formally appoint him prime minister, after his Labour Party won on a landslide election victory https://t.co/UeZwkIZBVg pic.twitter.com/5OyH5xkL0N

— Reuters (@Reuters) July 5, 2024

In his last address as the Prime Minister of the UK, Rishi Sunak also confirmed he would be resigning as the Leader of the Conservative Party as well, "I have heard your anger, your disappointment and I take responsibility for this loss. To all the Conservative candidates and campaigners who worked tirelessly, but without success, I'm sorry that we could not deliver what your efforts deserved."

Rishi Sunak says he will resign as the leader of the Conservative Party only when formal arrangements for a successor are complete. He has announced the decision to step down from the post.

Rishi Sunak arrives at the Buckingham Palace to tender his resignation as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to King Charles III.

Rishi Sunak gives his last speech as UK Prime Minister outside 10, Downing Street: "To the country, I would like to say first and foremost, I am sorry. I have given this job my all but you have sent a clear signal that the government of the United Kingdom must change and yours is the only judgement that matters. I take responsibility for this loss...Following this result, I will step down as party leader."

As he announces plan to resign as the leader of the Conservtive Party, outgoing UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says, "This is a difficult day at the end of a number of difficult days. This is the best country in the world and it is thanks entirely to you, the British people."

Rishi Sunak announces he'll resign as Conservative Party leader after its crushing defeat in election.

Sending good wishes to outgoing UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, PM Narendra Modi tweets, "Thank you [Rishi Sunak] for your admirable leadership of the UK, and your active contribution to deepen the ties between India and the UK during your term in office. Best wishes to you and your family for the future."

Extending congratulations to UK Labour Party leader and the country's incoming prime minister, Keir Starmer, PM Narendra Modi tweets, "Heartiest congratulations and best wishes to [Keir Starmer] on the remarkable victory in the UK general elections. I look forward to our positive and constructive collaboration to further strengthen the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in all areas, fostering mutual growth and prosperity."

Current tally, as per official results reported by BBC:

Labour -- 410 seats

Conservatives -- 119 seats

Liberal Democrats -- 71 seats

SNP -- 9 seats

SF -- 7 seats

Others -- 28 seats

Rishi Sunak is expected to tender his resignation as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to King Charles shortly. The outgoing PM's yet-to-be-appointed successor, Keir Starmer, is slated to meet the monarch today itself.

Reuters reports that as many as 10 cabinet ministers of outgoing UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's government have failed to win their seats. They include:

• Former Prime Minister Liz Truss

• Defence Minister Grant Shapps

• Leader of the House Penny Mordaunt.

• Education Minister Gillian Keegan

• Culture Minister Lucy Frazer.

• Science Minister Michelle Donelan

• Justice Minister Alex Chalk

• Peter Bottomley, who was the longest-serving lawmaker in parliament

• Former minister Jacob Rees-Mogg

The State Opening of Parliament and King's Speech, setting out a government's programme of legislation for the parliamentary session, is due to take place on July 17, although this date could be changed by a new government, Reuters reports.

The next session of UK's Parliament is set to convene on July 9.

Outgoing UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to tender his resignation to King Charles today itself, news agency Reuters reports.

Former UK prime minister Liz Truss, who holds the distiction of being the country's shortest-serving leader, lost her parliamentary seat in the ongoing general polls in the country. She secured 11,217 votes in her South West Norfolk
constituency in eastern England, behind 11,847 votes for Labour candidate Terry Jermy.

In his acceptance speech, Labour Party leader and UK Prime Minister-to-be Keir Starmer said, "Four and a half years of work, changing the party. This is what it is for. A changed Labour Party, ready to serve our country, ready to restore Britain to the service of working people."

Labour Party leader and UK Prime Minister-to-be Keir Starmer said in his victory speech: "Our task is nothing less than renewing the ideas that hold this country together: national renewal."

In his acceptance speech, UK Prime Minister-elect Keir Starmer attributes his party's victory to a "changed Labour Party". "Election victories don't fall from the sky, they're hard won and hard fought for, and this one could only be won by a changed Labour Party," he is quoted as saying by the BBC.

"Today we start the next chapter," he adds.

The party that will win at least 326 seats will form the government and its leader will become the next prime minister of the country.

The Labour Party on Friday marked a historic win in the UK general election by securing 326 seats. Outgoing Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader Rishi Sunak conceded defeat. "I am sorry," Sunak said as he acknowledged Labour’s victory.

In a speech after his party won the national election, ending 14 years of Conservative government, British Labour leader Keir Starmer says "Change begins now."

Britain's Labour Party wins enough seats for a majority in the UK's Parliament. The voting for the UK General Elections began at 7:00 AM (0600 GMT) on Thursday and closed at 10:00 PM. 

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and Justice Secretary Alex Chalk early on Friday became the first senior Conservative leaders in Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Cabinet to lose their seats in the UK general election.

Rishi Sunak, the UK's current Prime Minister and Conservative Party candidate, won in Richmond and Northallerton.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak may be on course for a bruising defeat with his Labour Party rival Keir Starmer set for a landslide win, as per the early trends.

Keir Starmer, a Labour Party leader candidate, on Friday thanked voters and said the people of the country are "ready for change" and to "end the politics of performance".

An exit poll indicated a landslide election win for the Labour Party and a crushing loss for Rishi Sunak's Conservatives. As per predictions, Labour could potentially win up to 410 seats, comfortably surpassing the halfway mark of 326 and securing a 170-seat majority, with the incumbent Tories being reduced to just 131 seats.