The opposition Labour Party led by Keir Starmer made early gains as counting of votes got underway in the UK general elections on Friday, as exit polls predicted a historic defeat for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s ruling Conservative Party.
The poll showed Labour would win 410 seats in the 650-seat parliament. The Conservatives (Tories), in power for 14 years marked by turmoil and economic doldrums, were forecast to only take 131 seats, the worst electoral performance in its history.
Labour snapped up 45 seats in the initial hours of the vote count, while the Tories were a very distant second with just four seats in their kitty. The Liberal Democrats secured two seats, while the right-wing Reform UK, led by Brexit champion Nigel Farage, won in one constituency.
This is a developing story. It will be updated.