Live: Keir Starmer welcomes ‘the sunlight of hope’ after becoming Prime Minister

Here’s the latest:

12.57pm

12.55pm

Sir Keir Starmer promised voters “My Government will serve you” whether or not they voted Labour as he vowed to show “politics can be a force for good”.

The new Prime Minister said: “If you voted Labour yesterday, we will carry the responsibility of your trust as we rebuild our country.

“But whether you voted Labour or not, in fact especially if you did not, I say to you directly, my Government will serve you.

“Politics can be a force for good. We will show that. We’ve changed the Labour Party, returned it to service, and that is how we will govern. Country first, party second.

“Yet if I’m honest, service is merely a precondition of hope. And it is surely clear to everyone that our country needs a bigger reset, a rediscovery of who we are. Because no matter how fierce the storms of history, one of the great strengths of this nation has always been our ability to navigate a way to calmer waters.

“And yet this depends upon politicians, particularly those who stand for stability and moderation, as I do, recognising that we must change course.”

12.54pm

12.52pm

Sir Keir Starmer said: “The work of change begins immediately, but have no doubt, we will rebuild Britain.”

He concluded by saying: “Our work is urgent and we begin it today.”

12.51pm

Sir Keir Starmer said: “Our country has voted decisively for change, for national renewal and a return of politics to public service.

“When the gap between the sacrifices made by people and the service they receive from politicians grows this big, it leads to a weariness in the heart of a nation, a draining away of the hope, the spirit, the belief in a better future.

“But we need to move forward together. Now, this wound, this lack of trust, can only be healed by actions, not words, I know that.

“But we can make a start today with the simple acknowledgement that public service is a privilege and that your government should treat every single person in this country with respect.”

12.49pm

12.48pm

12.47pm

After stepping out from a car on to Downing Street in the sunshine to applause and cheers, and then greeting supporters, the new Prime Minister took to the lectern.

Sir Keir Starmer said: “I have just returned from Buckingham Palace, where I accepted an invitation from His Majesty the King to form the next Government of this great nation.

“I want to thank the outgoing prime minister Rishi Sunak. His achievement as the first British-Asian prime minister of our country, the extra effort that that will have required, should not be underestimated by anyone. And we pay tribute to that today.

“We also recognise the dedication and hard work he brought to his leadership.”

12.46pm

Sir Keir Starmer said “my Government will serve you, politics can be a force for good”, as he addressed the nation from Downing Street for the first time.

12.45pm

12.41pm

Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Lady Starmer arrived in Downing Street to cheers and applause.

The new Prime Minister shook hands with waiting Labour supporters who waved flags.

12.39pm

12.37pm

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12.27pm

Buckingham Palace said in a statement: “The King received in Audience The Right Honourable Sir Keir Starmer MP today and requested him to form a new Administration. Sir Keir accepted His Majesty’s offer and kissed hands upon his appointment as Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury.”

12.19pm

Sir Keir Starmer has become Prime Minister after his audience with the King at Buckingham Palace.

12.16pm

12.08pm

Sir Keir Starmer arrived at Buckingham Palace in a chauffeur-driven car ahead of becoming the third prime minister of the King’s reign.

Sir Keir was joined by his wife Lady Starmer, who works in occupational health for the NHS, and the couple were welcomed by the King and Queen’s principal private secretary Sir Clive Alderton.

Also there to greet the couple was Charles’s equerry, Royal Navy Commander William Thornton.

12.06pm

12.02pm

12.01pm

Rishi Sunak apologises for Tory electoral disaster and confirms plan to quit as leader.

11.59am

Sir Keir Starmer has arrived at Buckingham Palace for an audience with the King where he will be invited to form a government and become prime minister.

11.48am

Lib Dems become UK’s third largest party again after ‘record-breaking night’.

11.35am

11.29am

Rishi Sunak left Buckingham Palace with his wife just after 11.20am and dozens of spectators outside the royal residence held up camera phones to record his departure.

11.26am

A statement from Buckingham Palace said: “The Right Honourable Rishi Sunak MP had an audience of The King this morning and tendered his resignation as Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury, which His Majesty was graciously pleased to accept.”

11.16am

11.15am

11.14am

11.04am

11.00am

10.59am

10.58am

10.57am

Rishi Sunak was greeted at the King’s door by Sir Clive Alderton, principal private secretary to the King and Queen, and the King’s equerry Commander William Thornton, Royal Navy.

The outgoing premier is expected to leave privately and unseen with his family after the audience with the King.

10.56am

10.55am

10.54am

10.53am

10.52am

Rishi Sunak has arrived at Buckingham Palace to tender his resignation as Prime Minister to the King.

10.51am

Rishi Sunak praised Sir Keir Starmer as a “decent, public-spirited man who I respect” as he conceded defeat outside Number 10.

The Prime Minister said “whatever our disagreements”, he wished Sir Keir and his family well as they make “the huge transition to their new lives behind this door”.

Mr Sunak said: “Whilst he has been my political opponent, Sir Keir Starmer will shortly become our prime minister.

“In this job, his successes will be all our successes, and I wish him and his family well.

“Whatever our disagreements in this campaign, he is a decent, public-spirited man who I respect.

“He and his family deserve the very best of our understanding as they make the huge transition to their new lives behind this door.”

10.50am

Delivering his final statement as Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak said: “I’d like to thank my colleagues, my Cabinet, the Civil Service, especially here in Downing Street. The team at Chequers, my staff, CCHQ.

“But most of all, I’d like to express my gratitude to my wife Akshata and our beautiful daughters. I can never thank them enough for the sacrifices they have made so that I might serve our country.”

10.49am

After his speech, Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty, who was carrying an umbrella, got into a dark blue Audi and were driven away from Downing Street.

Mr Sunak is expected to go to Buckingham Palace for an audience with the King where he will officially end his premiership.

10.48am

10.47am

10.46am

Rishi Sunak said: “Following this result I will step down as party leader – not immediately, but once the formal arrangements for selecting my successor are in place.

“It is important that after 14 years in government the Conservative Party rebuilds, but also that it takes up its crucial role in opposition professionally and effectively.”

10.45am

Rishi Sunak said “I am sorry” to the nation as he began his final speech as Prime Minister.

After stepping out on to a drizzly Downing Street, he said: “I will shortly be seeing His Majesty the King to offer my resignation as Prime Minister.

“To the country, I would like to say first and foremost, I am sorry.

“I have given this job my all, but you have sent a clear signal that the Government of the United Kingdom must change. And yours is the only judgment that matters.

“I have heard your anger, your disappointment, and I take responsibility for this loss.”

10.43am

Rishi Sunak announced he will step down as Tory leader once formal arrangements for a successor have taken place.

10.42am

Rishi Sunak said on social media that he had “given this job my all”, adding: “This is a difficult day, but I leave this job honoured to have been Prime Minister of the best country in the world.”

10.39am

10.38am

10.37am

World leaders congratulate ‘friend’ Starmer on election victory.

10.32am

A crowd has gathered outside Downing Street in anticipation of Rishi Sunak’s arrival.

Around 100 members of the public stood on the other side of Whitehall, behind several police officers.

A partial rendition of So Long, Farewell from The Sound Of Music could be heard in Downing Street.

10.29am

10.27am

Night of shocks for DUP as Ian Paisley loses family hold on North Antrim.

10.19am

Larry the cat has appeared in Downing Street.

The 17-year-old tabby padded up the street past dozens of reporters who whistled to get his attention, before sitting outside No 10 before Rishi Sunak’s arrival.

10.17am

“I have to accept that we failed to convince people of the urgency of independence in this election campaign,” John Swinney said.

“Therefore, we need to take the time to consider and to reflect on how we deliver our commitment to independence – which remains absolute.

“As somebody who has devoted their entire adult life to the winning of Scottish independence – not for an abstract reason, but because I believe it will transform the lives of our people for the better – we need to get that approach correct in the forthcoming period.

“I accept that we need to engage with, listen to and learn from the people of Scotland on how we take forward our arguments for independence.”

10.11am

John Swinney has said he is “committed” to healing the relationship between the SNP and the electorate.

Speaking in Edinburgh after a devastating night for the party, the First Minister said he took full responsibility for the campaign which saw the SNP drop dozens of seats.

“The Scottish National Party needs to be healed and it needs to heal its relationship with the people of Scotland, and I am absolutely committed to doing that,” he said.

10.01am

There will be no final result in the UK General Election on Friday because a count in the Highlands will restart on Saturday morning.

9.54am

Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald said the General Election result in Northern Ireland demonstrated the need to plan for a new future on the island of Ireland.

Sinn Fein is now the largest party at council, Stormont and Westminster level in the region.

“The message of the people of the north of Ireland to the British Government tonight is that change is happening, it is time to plan, it is time to prepare for a new future together on this island. The people have spoken,” she said.

“I want to thank every person who came out and put their X beside a Sinn Fein candidate to get behind our positive vision for a better future in a new Ireland.

“From day one, we will be knocking on the door of the British Government to demand that they stop their disgraceful underfunding of our public services and of the Executive here.

“It is now time to move forward to a new and better future.”

9.48am

9.42am

9.33am

9.27am

9.06am

Labour MP Zarah Sultana told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “The party has clearly lost support in parts of the country because of its position on Gaza, and we see that in Coventry as well – we’ve heard concerns about the Labour Party when it comes to Gaza and it’s no surprise.”

Ms Sultana said polling has shown the public “overwhelmingly back a ceasefire” and support a ban on arms sales, adding: “The party was out of touch.

“On the one hand we’re saying we need to listen to voters, but when it comes to this particular issue there was a hope that this problem would just go away and it hasn’t.

“The party has to seriously recognise and acknowledge the issue, which is not just with British Muslim communities, it’s across communities, but it definitely is a serious issue, as well the Islamophobia that people experience – which also exists within the Labour Party.”

Ms Sultana, who was re-elected in Coventry South, said the party has “moved in the right direction” by calling for a ceasefire but added that it took “a long time to get there”.

9.03am

9.00am

Sir Ed Davey was asked by journalists if his party can have any influence over a Labour government with such a large majority.

He said: “Yes, we’ve got the best ideas, we have the most ambitious programme.

“The Conservatives have left the country in a mess and it will take some time.”

Reflecting on the Lib Dems’ success, Sir Ed added: “It’s always great to beat Conservatives.”

8.57am

Sir Ed Davey said the Liberal Democrats’ first campaign will be “for an emergency budget for health and care”.

To cheers from supporters he added: “Every Liberal Democrat MP will be the voice for carers and we are going to make sure your voice is heard like never before.”

8.52am

8.47am

Sir Ed Davey has addressed Lib Dem staff and supporters at the party’s Westminster headquarters.

One shouted “we love you Ed” as the party leader smiled and waved.

“I didn’t even have to paraglide in,” he joked.

He thanked supporters for helping the party record its “best result in over 100 years”.

He added: “I want to thank you for trusting us again. We will not let you down. Trust is a very precious commodity.”

8.39am

8.38am

8.34am

Sir Keir Starmer is expected to appoint his whole Cabinet on Friday, Labour’s national campaign chief has said.

Pat McFadden told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Keir Starmer will get on with appointing his Cabinet, which we expect to be done by the end of today.

“Certainly the whole Cabinet. That Cabinet will meet tomorrow. And he will have to quickly allocate those responsibilities, give his new Cabinet their marching orders and then there’s big international events coming.

“We have a Nato summit next week. That will be his first moment on the international stage. And while he’s doing that, he will want his new Cabinet to get on with it pretty quickly.”

8.33am

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said she wants a “constructive partnership” with the incoming Labour government as she congratulated Sir Keir Starmer.

She said: “Look forward to working with you in a constructive partnership to address common challenges and strengthen European security.”

8.28am

8.27am

Liz Truss unseated in South West Norfolk as Rishi Sunak concedes to Sir Keir Starmer.

8.12am

Conservative MP Mel Stride, the outgoing Work and Pensions Secretary who held on to Central Devon by 61 votes, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I think the message from the electorate is extremely stark, this is a devastating defeat and it will take quite a lot of time now to do the thinking, to get ourselves back into a position where we can rebuild and become once again the natural party of government – and that is going to take a bit of time.”

Mr Stride advised his colleagues to “avoid too much friction, sound and fury” and “focus on rebuilding”.

He said it is for Rishi Sunak to announce his next steps, adding: “Clearly, at some point, there will need to be a new leader of the Conservative Party and I don’t think that is a startling statement to make.”

8.11am

Rishi Sunak will make a statement at about 10.30am, Downing Street said.

He will then travel to Buckingham Palace for an audience with the King, where he is expected to formally tender his resignation.

Then it is Sir Keir Starmer’s turn to see the King at the palace. He will be appointed as the country’s next prime minister and asked to form an administration.

He will then be driven to Downing Street to address the nation for the first time as prime minister at around 12.20pm.

8.09am

7.53am

Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer said it was a “vote of confidence” to have defeated Labour’s Thangam Debbonaire in Bristol Central.

She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We had a target in this election of going from one MP to four MPs, quadrupling our representation in the House of Commons. And we’ve achieved that.”

She said the “benefit of getting a handful of Green MPs elected is that we can hold” Labour to account.

“We will push them to be braver on the areas where we don’t think they’re going far enough. For example, in housing.”

7.52am

7.48am

7.47am

A white van and a truck have arrived outside 10 Downing Street.

The van, with “Euro self drive: van and truck hire” written on the side, parked around the side of Number 10.

A larger, unbranded white truck parked in front of the van with its back door open.

7.43am

With 641 constituency results declared, Labour has won 410 seats with a 33.9% share of the vote.

The Conservatives have 119 seats and a 23.7% vote share.

The Liberal Democrats have won in 71 constituencies with 12.3% of the overall vote, while Reform UK has 14.3% of the vote, translating to success in four seats.

The SNP has eight seats, Plaid Cymru is on four, Sinn Fein has seven and the DUP has four.

The Green Party has 6.8% of the votes and four seats.

7.40am

Sir Tony Blair has said a “changed Labour Party can now change Britain”.

The former prime minister, in a message to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, said: “My heartfelt congratulations to Keir on a stunning victory and an historic achievement.

“To take the Labour Party from where it was to where it is now has taken immense skill, courage and leadership.

“He has done an absolutely brilliant job, as have the amazing Labour team and candidates. I feel a huge sense of pride in them all.

“A changed Labour Party can now change Britain.”

7.38am

Tory minister Steve Baker said “thank God I’m a free man” after he was ousted from his Wycombe seat.

The self-styled “Brexit hardman”, who had signalled his intention to launch a party leadership bid after the election, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I fought this to win it and I wanted to do my duty and continue. But I am, today, thank God, a free man.

“Try being elected to Parliament and you’ll understand. I am able now to resume my life and that is going to be a great blessing to me.

“So I’m afraid I will be honest with the public. Thank God I’m a free man.”

7.32am

Former prime minister Liz Truss did not give a speech after losing her Norfolk South West seat to Labour, but she told the BBC: “I think the issue we faced as Conservatives is we haven’t delivered sufficiently on the policies people want.

“And that means keeping taxes low, but also particularly on reducing immigration. And I think that’s been a crucial issue here in South West Norfolk, that was the number one issue that people raised on the doorstep with me.”

Asked whether she accepted some responsibility for that, Ms Truss said: “I agree. I was part of that. That’s absolutely true.

“But during our 14 years in power, unfortunately we did not do enough to take on the legacy we’d been left, in particular things like the Human Rights Act that made it very difficult for us to deport illegal immigrants. And that is one of the reasons I think we’ve ended up in the situation we are now.”

She added “I’ve got a lot to think about” when asked whether she wanted to stay in Tory politics.

7.31am

7.18am

7.16am

7.14am

With 632 constituency results declared, Labour has won 408 seats with a 34.2% share of the vote.

The Conservatives have 115 seats and a 23.6% vote share.

The Liberal Democrats have won in 68 constituencies with 12% of the overall vote, while Reform UK has 14.3% of the vote, translating to success in four seats.

The SNP has eight seats, Plaid Cymru is on four, Sinn Fein has seven and the DUP has four.

The Green Party has 6.8% of the votes and four seats.

7.12am

Tory minister Steve Baker has lost Wycombe to Labour candidate Emma Reynolds.

7.11am

Outgoing Conservative Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride has won Devon Central, beating Labour and holding on to his seat by 61 votes.

7.10am

7.08am

The Liberal Democrats have won 68 seats, with hopes of gaining more.

Party leader Sir Ed Davey said: “This is a record-breaking night for the Liberal Democrats. We have swept to victory in seats from Land’s End to John o’ Groats.

“I am humbled by the trust that millions of people across the country have put in us.

“We will now work hard to keep that trust with a focus on the issues that matter most to them, most of all the NHS and care.”

7.07am

TUV leader Jim Allister, who has been elected MP for North Antrim after taking the seat from Ian Paisley, said voters had ended decades of the Paisley dynasty.

“There is no escaping the fact that there has been a political earthquake in North Antrim of seismic proportions,” he said.

7.06am

With 628 constituency results declared, Labour has won 407 seats with a 34.2% share of the vote.

The Conservatives have 112 seats and a 23.5% vote share.

The Liberal Democrats have won in 68 constituencies with 12% of the overall vote while Reform UK has 14.3% of the vote, translating to success in four seats.

The SNP has eight seats, Plaid Cymru is on four, Sinn Fein has seven and the DUP has four.

The Green Party has 6.8% of the votes and four seats.

7.05am

7.00am

Jeremy Hunt said his departure as chancellor would not be a “tough day” but instead showed the “magic of democracy”.

Speaking after his own election victory was announced at Godalming and Ash, Mr Hunt said: “A message to my children, who I sincerely hope are asleep now: this may seem like a tough day for our family as we move out of Downing Street, but it isn’t.

“We are incredibly lucky to live in a country where decisions like this are made not by bombs or bullets, but by thousands of ordinary citizens peacefully placing crosses in boxes and bits of paper.

“Brave Ukrainians are dying every day to defend their right to do what we did yesterday and we must never take that for granted.

“Don’t be sad, this is the magic of democracy.”

6.57am

Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister has defeated the DUP’s Ian Paisley in North Antrim, a seat held by members of the Paisley family for more than 50 years.

6.56am

6.55am

Labour’s Danny Beales has beaten the Conservatives in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, previously the seat of former prime minister Boris Johnson.

6.54am

Liberal Democrat Joshua Reynolds has beaten the Conservatives in Maidenhead, the seat previously held by former prime minister Theresa May, who did not seek re-election.

6.53am

The candidates for Norfolk South West were left waiting on stage for several minutes for the announcement of the result as they waited for Liz Truss to appear.

Some of those watching began a slow hand clap before the former PM appeared without a Conservative rosette.

6.52am

6.49am

Former prime minister Liz Truss has lost her Norfolk South West seat to Labour.

6.45am

Jeremy Hunt said the Conservatives’ “crushing” election night defeat was a “bitter pill to swallow” for the party.

Speaking after his victory in Godalming and Ash was announced, Mr Hunt said: “We have achieved much in government and the economy has transformed from where it was post-pandemic.

“Some Conservatives will wonder whether the scale of our crushing defeat was really justified. But when you lose the trust of the electorate, all that matters is having the courage and humility to ask yourself, why? So that you can earn it back again.

“I was incredibly proud to serve under Rishi Sunak, but I wish the incoming Labour government well.

“Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves are decent people and committed public servants who have changed the Labour Party for the better. Whatever our policy differences, we all now need them to succeed.

“I hope in particular they use their majority to make much needed reforms to the NHS, in a way that is sometimes difficult for Conservative governments to do.”

6.44am

Labour has reached 400 seats with 612 constituency results declared, securing 34.4% of the vote share.

The Conservatives have 107 seats and a 23.4% vote share.

The Liberal Democrats have won in 66 constituencies with 11.9% of the overall vote, while Reform UK has 14.4% of the vote, translating to success in four seats.

The SNP has seven seats, Plaid Cymru is on four, Sinn Fein has seven and the DUP has four.

The Green Party has 6.9% of the votes and four seats.

6.43am

6.41am

Business and trade minister Greg Hands has lost Chelsea and Fulham to Labour.

6.40am

6.39am

Counting has been paused at Basildon South & East Thurrock and will resume at 2pm for a full recount.

The Basildon & Billericay seat was won by just 20 votes after two recounts by Conservative chairman Richard Holden.

6.37am

6.36am

Outgoing Home Secretary James Cleverly has warned “there is nothing honourable in presenting simple and thin solutions to challenging and complex problems”.

The Braintree MP, who has held his seat, said: “This has been a very difficult night for my party and losing the position of government of this country is painful, but it is the nature of our democracy that it happens.

“And when it happens it is incumbent upon, I suppose, all parties, but particularly the party leaving government, to listen carefully to what the voters are telling us.

“I am not going to rush to any quick judgments. I think the right thing to do is be thoughtful and take a short period of time to really assess what the voters are telling us, but it is clear that, when you see the vote share of the traditional main parties of government, that many voters are disillusioned with all of us. And we should take that on board.

“I think it is also right that we have the humility to recognise that there is nothing honourable in presenting simple and thin solutions to challenging and complex problems, and the world is a difficult and dangerous place, and we have to respond to that.”

6.34am

6.32am

6.30am

6.27am

With 600 constituency results declared, Labour has won 395 seats with a 34.6% share of the vote.

The Conservatives have 103 seats and a 23.2% vote share.

The Liberal Democrats have won in 63 constituencies with 11.8% of the overall vote, while Reform UK has 14.4% of the vote, translating to success in four seats.

The SNP has seven seats, Plaid Cymru is on four, the DUP has four and Sinn Fein has seven.

The Green Party has 6.9% of the votes and four seats.

6.26am

6.25am

6.24am

Home Secretary James Cleverly has held his seat in Braintree, Essex.

6.20am

Transport Secretary Mark Harper has been defeated by Labour in the Forest of Dean.

6.16am

Green Party candidate and former co-leader Sian Berry has won Brighton Pavilion, the party’s fourth victory of the night.

6.14am

6.13am

6.12am

Liberal Democrat Charlie Maynard has won Witney, beating the Conservatives in the seat which used to belong to former prime minister Lord David Cameron.

6.11am

Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock said he was feeling “something like ecstasy” after Sir Keir Starmer gave his victory speech at the Tate Modern.

Asked what had surprised him about the General Election, Mr Kinnock told PA news agency: “The dimension of the victory. I know what the very scientific polls had said, but for obvious reasons I retain a certain reservation about the accuracy of polls – they’ve turned out to be virtually smack on.

“Delight doesn’t really fit the bill, something like ecstasy I guess – at the achievement of Keir and of the Labour Party – and it’s historic and it’s wonderful, and it can change the whole course of our country for the much, much better.”

6.07am

6.05am

6.03am

With 574 constituency results declared, Labour has won 385 seats with a 35% share of the vote.

The Conservatives have 95 seats and a 22.8% vote share.

The Liberal Democrats have taken 56 constituencies with 11.5% of the overall vote, while Reform UK has 14.4% of the vote, translating to success in four seats.

The SNP has seven seats, Plaid Cymru is on four, Sinn Fein has seven and the DUP four. The Green Party has 6.8% of the votes and three seats.

6.02am

6.00am

5.59am

A record number of female MPs will sit in the new House of Commons.

Some 242 women have been elected so far, passing the previous record of 220 in 2019.

The number has risen at each of the past six elections.

5.58am

Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay has won Waveney Valley, defeating the Conservatives.

5.57am

5.56am

Tory former minister Sir Liam Fox has been defeated in Somerset North by Labour’s Sadik Al-Hassan.

5.55am

5.54am

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey celebrated the party’s election results by dancing and singing to Sweet Caroline with supporters in central London.

Sir Ed laughed as he whirled around with his hands in the air singing the Neil Diamond classic while supporters sang along and waved orange Lib Dem posters.

The party leader hugged attendees as he danced his way towards the stage to deliver a short speech after his stunt-packed election campaign.

5.52am

5.50am

5.48am

With 545 constituency results declared, Labour has won 372 seats with a 35.6% share of the vote.

The Conservatives have 90 seats and a 22.8% vote share.

The Liberal Democrats have triumphed in 50 constituencies with 11.2% of the overall vote, while Reform UK have 14.5% of the vote, translating to success in four seats.

The SNP has five seats, Plaid Cymru is on four, Sinn Fein has six and the DUP has four. The Green Party has 6.8% of the votes and two seats

5.44am

5.43am

Tory security minister Tom Tugendhat has won Tonbridge.

5.42am

Labour has overturned more than a decade of SNP domination at Westminster by securing a majority of Scottish seats.

Labour sealed its resurgence in Scotland after passing the 29-seat threshold.

In the 2019 General Election, the party returned just one MP north of the border to the SNP’s 48.

5.41am

Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock had a tear in his eye as he spoke to reporters after Sir Keir Starmer’s speech.

Asked if we could start saying “Sir Keir Starmer, Prime Minister” Mr Kinnock said: “I think we can.”

He added: “This guy has got real strength of character, people know that innately about Keir Starmer, but they’re about to see it in action.

“It’s typical of Keir to pick up on the fact we’re walking into today and then into tomorrow – he’s got a sense of purpose for the future. It isn’t anything as romantic as destiny, but what he wants to avoid is the kind of vision that’s a mirage.”

5.40am

https://twitter.com/AlboMP/status/18090825185972184095.38am

5.37am

5.36am

The Tories have lost all their MPs in Wales after Welsh Secretary David TC Davies lost his seat in Monmouthshire to Labour.

5.35am

With 528 constituency results declared, Labour has won 363 seats with a 35.7% share of the vote.

The Conservatives have 85 seats and a 22.7% vote share.

The Liberal Democrats have won in 48 constituencies with 11.2% of the overall vote, while Reform UK have 14.6% of the vote, translating to success in four seats.

The SNP has five seats, Plaid Cymru is on four and the DUP has four. The Green Party has 6.8% of the votes and two seats.

5.33am

5.31am

Dan Norris, the new MP for North East Somerset and Hanham, said he had “got Mogg-xit done” after defeating Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg.

The Labour MP added: “It’s a great honour to serve the people of Keynsham, North East Somerset, Hanham and surrounding areas. This is my home. I’m deeply proud of all our communities and want our part of the world to be the best it can be.”

5.30am

5.29am

5.28am

5.27am

Tory Government minister and former TV presenter Esther McVey has won in Tatton.

5.26am

Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg congratulated Sir Keir Starmer on “what seems to be a historic victory”.

He lost to Labour’s Dan Norris – who he previously unseated during an election in 2010 – in the new North East Somerset and Hanham constituency.

Speaking at the University of Bath after the result was declared, Sir Jacob said: “May I begin by giving my warmest congratulations to Dan Norris, who has been a servant of North East Somerset or Wansdyke as it then was before and I am sure will be a devoted constituency MP in the future.

“And congratulate Sir Keir Starmer who has led his party to what seems to be a historic victory. And this is the great virtue of our democracy, so I congratulate both of them.”

5.24am

Sir Keir Starmer said “election victories don’t fall from the sky” in his victory speech.

The incoming Prime Minister said: “Don’t forget how we got here. This morning we can see that the British people have voted to turn the page.

“I may have mentioned my parents a few times on this campaign – once or twice – but the sense of security we had, the comfort we had from believing that Britain would always be better for their children. The hope – not high minded, not idealistic – but a hope that working class families like mine could build their lives around.

“It is a hope that might not burn brightly in Britain at the moment but we have earned the mandate to relight the fire. That is the purpose of this party and this government.

“We said we would end the chaos and we will. We said we would turn the page and we have. Today we start the next chapter, begin the work of change, the mission of national renewal and start to rebuild our country. Thank you.”

5.23am

Dartford has kept its 60-year record for being the longest-running bellwether seat in the UK.

Constituencies where the local result has a habit of matching the overall national outcome are known as bellwethers.

Since 1964, whichever party wins Dartford has gone on to form the government.

At this election, Labour gained Dartford from the Conservatives on a swing of 17.2 percentage points.

5.22am

With 500 constituency results declared, Labour have won 348 seats with a 35.9% share of the vote.

The Conservatives have 76 seats and a 22.4% vote share.

The Liberal Democrats have triumphed in 46 constituencies with 11.1% of the overall vote, while Reform UK have 14.6% of the vote, translating to success in four seats.

The SNP has four seats, Plaid Cymru is on four, and the DUP has three. The Green Party has 6.8% of the votes and two seats.

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5.17am

Conservative former minister Sir Gavin Williamson has won Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge.

5.16am

Sir Keir Starmer said: “Today we start the next chapter, begin the work of change, the mission of national renewal and start to rebuild our country.

Giving his victory speech victory speech in the Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall, he added it “feels good, I have to be honest” as results reached the halfway point.

The Labour leader said: “We did it. 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 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.”

5.11am

First Minister John Swinney has apologised to SNP candidates who did not retain their seats in the House of Commons.

Speaking to the PA news agency, Mr Swinney admitted the result was “very damaging and tough”.

“I’m very sorry to the colleagues who have lost their seats and will lose their seats in the course of this evening,” he said.

“The SNP has been through a very tough time and part of that tough time is the fact that I am now leading the party and have been doing so for the last eight weeks.

“You don’t recover from those tough times in an instant, and we’ve not managed to recover from them during this election campaign and I’m deeply sorry that that’s the situation that we face.

“But we’ve got to face up to the realities of the situation that we are in and we’ve got to build the trust and the confidence of the public in Scotland.”

5.11am

Sir Keir Starmer said the UK is waking up this morning to “the sunlight of hope”, which was “shining once again on a country with the opportunity after 14 years to get its future back”.

In his victory speech, he added: “Our task is nothing less than renewing the ideals that hold this country together.”

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5.03am

Labour has won the General Election after reaching the required 326 seats.

5.02am

Sir Keir Starmer said “we did it” at a victory party as results pointed to a Labour landslide, adding “change begins now”.

5am

Senior Conservative Jacob Rees-Mogg has lost his North East Somerset and Hanham seat to Labour.

4.58am

Tory candidate Sir Peter Bottomley, who was Father of the House, has lost his seat in Worthing West to Labour’s Beccy Cooper.

4.57am

Labour has reached 300 seats as 416 constituency results have been declared, securing a 37.4% share of the vote.

The Conservatives have 58 seats and a 21.2% vote share.

The Liberal Democrats have won in 37 constituencies with 10.6% of the overall vote, while Reform UK have 14.9% of the vote, translating to success in four seats.

The SNP has four seats and Plaid Cymru is on four. The Green Party has 6.9% of the votes and one seat.

4.50am

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said it had been a “difficult night” and that the Labour party had won the General Election. He said the British people had delivered a “sobering verdict” on his party.

4.49am

After 377 constituency results out of 650 in the General Election, turnout stands at 58.7%.

Turnout at the 2019 general election was 67.3%.

4.46am

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has held his seat in Richmond and Northallerton.

4.36am

Speaking to the PA news agency as he was leaving the vote count Jeremy Corbyn said: “I’m very happy with the result.”

He said it was a “fantastic result and it’s a triumph for the people of Islington North”.

He said his message for Sir Keir Starmer was: “Our people in Islington North, your neighbouring constituency, turned out in huge numbers on a message of hope, wealth redistribution and fundamental change in our society. I’m very proud of them.”

Asked whether he was hopeful for the future, he said: “I’m always hopeful for the future because I’m a born optimist.”