'I Am Sorry': Rishi Sunak Concedes Defeat In UK Elections, Paves Way For Keir Starmer To 10 Downing Street

UK General Elections: Labour leader Keir Starmer gained a comfortable lead as voting closed early on Friday.

UK PM Rishi Sunak concedes defeat in the UK polls. (Image Source: X)

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak conceded defeat in the UK elections on Thursday as the rival Labour Party crossed the halfway mark of 326 seats, paving way for leader Keir Starmer to the 10 Downing Street.

"Labour has won this election," said Sunak who held on to his seat in Richmond and Northallerton. "Today, power will change hands in a peaceful and orderly manner with goodwill on all sides," he said, addind that he called Starmer and congratulated him on the victory.   

"... I’m sorry," the Conservative leader said as he took responsibility for the loss and said he will head to London where he would say more about the results before leaving the job of the prime minister.  

Work Of Change Begins Today: Starmer

Securing a historic victory for the Labour Party after 14 years, Starmer thanked the voters saying "you have changed our country." 

"A burden finally removed from the shoulders of this great nation," he remarked, adding that a mandate like this "comes with great responsibility." The 61-year-old Labour leader said, "We have to return politics to public service,", adding his government will "show it can be a force for good".

The work of change begins today. pic.twitter.com/DfP1UG1Upr

— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) July 5, 2024

The polls opened on Thursday and continued till early Friday and the exit polls suggested a sweeping victory for the Labour Party. 

Brexit Party's Historic Win

Right-wing populist party, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage won a seat in the Parliament in his eighth attempt from Clacton and promised "this is just the first step of something that is going to stun all of you". 

"My plan is to build a mass national movement over the course of the next few years," he said in his first victory speech as his party is set to become a key player in British politics, eroding the Conservative vote share in the result.

The Reform UK party was originally established as the Brexit Party in 2018 and rebranded in 2022. Farage contested from Clacton, a town in Essex that recorded one of the highest votes in favour of leaving the European Union in 2016 Brexit referandum.