UK PM Rishi Sunak concedes defeat with Labour set for landslide election win

LONDON — The U.K.’s opposition Labour Party is on course to win a huge parliamentary majority in the country’s general election, unseating the incumbent Conservatives after 14 years.

Early on Friday morning, Labour passed the threshold needed to govern alone as outgoing PM Rishi Sunak conceded defeat. Keir Starmer, leader of center-left Labour, will become the country’s next prime minister and declared victory in the early hours.

Some projections show Labour will gain its second-largest majority after former Prime Minister Tony Blair’s 179-seat majority in 1997. In comments overnight, Starmer said: “Tonight people here and around the country have spoken. And they’re ready for change.”

Millions of people across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on Thursday voted for their local representatives in the 650-member House of Commons, the U.K.’s lower house of parliament. Ballots are still being counted, with constituencies announcing their winning candidate as soon as votes are tallied.

U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Friday conceded defeat in the country’s parliamentary election and said that the opposition Labour party won.

“The Labour Party has won this general election and I have called Sir Keir Starmer to congratulate him on his victory,” Sunak said. He was speaking after having won his seat in parliament in Richmond and Northallerton.

Sunak spoke of a “difficult night” for the Conservative Party, and said he took responsibility for the results.

“The British people have delivered a sobering verdict tonight. There is much to learn and reflect on,” he said.