'WE DID IT!' Keir Starmer says ‘today we start the next chapter and begin to rebuild our country’ as Labour WIN landslide election
SIR Keir Starmer has declared "we did it" and said today "we start the next chapter" as his party won a landslide election.
In his victory speech, the Labour leader said the UK was again experiencing the "sunlight of hope".
Tory leader Rishi Sunak conceded defeat after a "sobering" night for his party which saw a record eight Cabinet minister lose their seats.
It is understood Sir Keir received a telephone call shortly before 4am when he was in a car with his wife Vic on the way to Labour's victory rally.
In Tate Modern's iconic turbine hall, Sir Keir said the country could now "get its future back".
He told jubilant activists "we did it", adding: "Change begins now."Sir Keir said: "You campaigned for it, you fought for it, you voted for it, and now it has arrived - change begins now. It feels good, I have to be honest.
"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.
"And across our country, people will be waking up to the news, relief that a weight has been lifted, a burden finally removed from the shoulders of this great nation.
"And now we can look forward, walk into the morning, the sunlight of hope, pale at first but getting stronger through the day, shining once again, on a country with the opportunity after 14 years to get its future back."He continued: "Today we start the next chapter, begin the work of change, the mission of national renewal and start to rebuild our country."
Sir Keir is said to have punched the air and gave his wife Victoria a hug when he heard the results of the exit poll
He was at a friend’s house in central London with his wife and a small group of friends and aides to watch the results.
It comes as Sir Keir vowed "I will fight your corner every single day" as he announced it was "time for Labour to deliver" in a rousing speech.
He made the bold claims as he held onto his Holborn and St Pancras seat by a large majority and a stint in No 10 beckons.
Earlier, Sir Keir was welcomed by joyous supporters as he arrived to the count alongside wife Victoria.
On a historic night:
- Keir Starmer will be Britain's next Prime Minister after Labour reached the required 326 seats in a Tory wipeout
- Starmer is expected to meet with King Charles later today
- Sir Keir then told supporters: "We did it!"
- Rishi Sunak admitted defeat and said he has called Sir Keir to congratulate him
- Chancellor Jeremy Hunt narrowly held onto his seat in Godalming and Ash
- But ex-Defence Secretary Grant Shapps became the first Tory big beast to lose out
- He was followed by Leader of the House Penny Mordaunt, one of eight Cabinet ministers have lost their seats
- Tory defector Lee Anderson claimed the first Reform seat
- He was followed by Nigel Farage, who has become an MP for the first time at the eighth attempt
- Mr Farage warned Labour "will be in trouble very, very quickly"
- Sir Keir's predecessor Jeremy Corbyn, now standing as an independent, also held onto Islington North
- Piers Morgan told our Never Mind The Ballots election show that Sir Keir MUST deliver after the Tory disaster
Speaking at the count, he said: "It is a huge privilege to be re-elected to serve this constituency, Holborn and St Pancras.
"My home, where my kids have grown up, where my wife was born. I have to thank Vic and my family more than anyone for their love and support and for keeping me totally grounded."
He added: "Whether you voted for me or not, I will serve every person in this constituency."
Sir Keir also pledged to "end the politics of performance", adding: "Tonight people here and around the country have spoken and they’re ready for change – to end the politics of performance and return to politics as public service.
"The change begins right here because this is your democracy, your community and your future.
"You have voted. It is now time for us to deliver."
Starmer knew it was going to be a good night when exit polls predicted a 170-seat majority for Labour across the UK.
Labour has clawed back constituencies lost to Boris Johnson in the Red Wall in 2019.
And the reds have booted out Tory big beasts, including Sir Robert Buckland in Swindon South and ex-Conservative Chair Amanda Milling in Cannock Chase.
Two Conservative heavyweights, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and Justice Secretary Alex Chalk, both lost their seats.
Former Defence Secretary Shapps was one of the most experienced Cabinet Ministers standing at the election - and had been expected to throw his hat in the ring for leader.
Laying into the Conservatives, he fumed: "Today, voters have simply said, 'If you can't agree with each other, then we can't agree to vote for you.'
Reform UK chief Nigel Farage was elected in Clacton with 21,225 votes and said his party is now targeting Labour.
Farage said it was "the first step of something that is going to stun all of you" and "we are coming for Labour".
The Tories worst previous result is 156 seats in 1906.
Sir Keir expected to be asked by King Charles to form the next government on Friday morning.He will then appoint his Cabinet before finalising a blizzard of new laws to be announced to Parliament on July 17.
Labour's expected victory is a significant turnaround from five years ago when the party crashed to its worst defeat since 1935 under Mr Corbyn.
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