UK general election 2024: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak resigns as Labour Party sweeps polls

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak conceded defeat in the United Kingdom’s general election on Friday and resigned from his post as the rival Labour Party secured a landslide victory, BBC reported.

The counting of votes began on Thursday night after polling in the parliamentary election concluded.

As of 4.00 pm India time on Friday, the Labour Party led by Keir Starmer had won 412 seats in the House of Commons, according to The Guardian. The Lower House has a total of 650 members and 326 seats are required for a majority.

Sunak’s Conservative Party had won 121 seats, followed by 71 of the Liberal Democrats.

The Reform UK party led by Nigel Farage, one of the key leaders of the Brexit movement, had won four seats. Farage himself was elected to the House of Commons in his eighth attempt, The Guardian reported.

“I have given this job my all,” Sunak said in his final address as the prime minister. “But you have sent a clear message, and yours is the only judgement that matters. This is a difficult day, but I leave this job honoured to have been prime minister of the best country in the world.”

He added that he will also step down as the Conservative party leader once his successor is selected.

“I take responsibility for this loss,” he said. The Buckingham Palace also accepted Sunak’s...

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