A Labour landslide, a Lib Dem surge, record showing for the Greens, excellent debut for Reform, shambles for the SNP and devastation for the Conservatives. With all constituencies finally counted, Labour have 412 seats and a rather healthy majority.
Overall Result
- Labour – 412 (33.7%)
- Conservative – 121 (23.7%)
- Liberal Democrats – 72 (12.2%)
- Scottish National Party – 9 (2.5%; 30% in Scotland)
- Sinn Féin – 7 (0.7%; 27% in Northern Ireland)
- Independent – 6 (2%)
- Democratic Unionist Party – 5 (0.6%; 22% in Northern Ireland)
- Reform – 5 (14.3%)
- Green – 4 (6.4%)
- Plaid Cymru – 4 (0.7%; 15% in Wales)
- Social Democratic and Labour Party – 2 (0.3%; 11% in Northern Ireland)
- Alliance Party (NI) – 1 (0.4%; 15% in Northern Ireland)
- Ulster Unionist Party – 1 (0.3%; 12.2% in Northern Ireland)
- Traditional Unionist Voice – 1 (0.2%; 6.6% in Northern Ireland)
What Happened?
Whilst Labour may have had ideas that attracted voters, it would be wrong to say that they won on policy alone. The Conservatives have become deeply unpopular after fourteen years in power. Why is this?
- Prices are going up, from houses, energy and petrol to your everyday shopping items like butter
- Housing stock is down
- Immigration is up
- Some say that the Conservatives aren’t particularly conservative
- Some aren’t happy with how Brexit was handled, whether they’re remainers or leavers
- The tax burden is the highest since WW2, but public services aren’t in great shape
- Fourteen years is a long time, and people are sick of the same thing
- Some are angry with how the Conservatives handled COVID, with their rule breaking particularly unpopular
- The Rwanda policy is controversial
- Rishi Sunak’s approvals were pretty dire
Labour may have taken many seats from the Conservatives, but they weren’t the biggest thorn in their sides.
Nigel Farage is a contentious figure in UK politics. Loved for his populist views, oratory skills and his connection with voters, he is simultaneously loathed for said views, desperation for a seat and style of politics. Having been at the helm of several political parties, his latest vehicle, Reform, did rather well for a new party. They got five seats, the third highest number of votes for any party, and a number of second place showings. In a number of seats, their presence has blocked the Conservatives from winning. Their successes came in the Red Wall and less well-off areas.
The Liberal Democrats also managed to pick up seats at the Conservatives’ expense. A centrist-liberal party, they were the Conservatives’ junior coalition partners between 2010 and 2015, before being wiped out. They now have a warm 72 seats, their highest ever. Their successes came in the more middle-class and rural areas of Britain.
Labour achieved 412 seats, flipping many historically blue areas red. One example is Bury St Edmunds and West Suffolk, an area that has been blue since 1826. They got many of their old Red Wall seats back, such as Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes, Bolsover and Dudley.
The Scottish Nationalist Party took a battering. They fell from a respectable forty-seven seats to nine. Previous leader Nicola Sturgeon had been forced to resign due to internal conflict, and the next one, Humza Yousaf was also forced out after a power-sharing agreement fell through. The Labour Party picked up most of their seats. Some argue that the attempt for Scottish independence has failed.
The Green Party exceeded expectations with four seats- Brighton Pavilion (a seat they already held), North Hertfordshire (formerly Conservative), Bristol West (formerly Labour area) and Dudley (taken from several former seats).
In Wales, the Conservatives lost every one of their seats. It is now mainly Labour, with a bit of Plaid Cymru and one Liberal Democrat.
In Northern Ireland, the DUP suffered a small fall from grace. Sinn Féin has seven seats, the best from that area.
Independents did well, with six representing their seats. They are:
- Shockat Adam (Leicester South) – Adam defeated incumbent Labour MP and Shadow Cabinet member Jonathan Ashworth in a surprising result. Leicester South is a predominantly Asian area, even more so than the city itself. Adam focused on the Israel-Palestine conflict, making it an important campaign pledge on his website and announcing “This is For Gaza” upon his victory.
- Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North) – Corbyn is the former Labour Party leader, and has held the seat since 1983. Islington North is a heavily metropolitan area with a diverse electorate. Corbyn was suspended from the party in 2020 after controversy surrounding anti-semitism, and was confirmed not to be their candidate. He nevertheless won with a significantly reduced majority, though still a healthy one. Corbyn is considered a popular constituency MP.
- Alex Easton (North Down) – Easton is a former member of the Democratic Unionist Party, having left in 2021. Some loyalist and conservative parties did not stand a candidate in order to help Easton. He won, having come second in the past three consecutive elections. North Down is a traditionally unionist area.
- Adnan Hussain (Blackburn) – Hussain defeated incumbent Labour’s Kate Hollern to win the seat. A solicitor by trade, he focused on Israel-Palestine as an issue. Blackburn has a significant Asian demographic.
- Ayoub Khan (Birmingham Perry Barr) – Khan was a former Liberal Democrat councillor who left the Liberal Democrats over concerns surrounding Israel-Palestine. He defeated Labour incumbent Khalid Mahmood. The constituency has a significant Asian demographic.
- Iqbal Mohamed (Dewsbury and Batley) – Mohamed beat Labour candidate Heather Iqbal. Like others, he focused on Israel-Palestine. The constituency has a Large Muslim demographic.
Prominent Tory MPs Who Lost Seats
- Steve Baker – Veteran Steve Baker, known for being ardently pro-Brexit, lost his seat to Labour.
- Robert Buckland – Former Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary lost his seat to Labour.
- Miriam Cates – A prominent member of the UK’s religious right, Cates lost her seat to Labour.
- Thérèse Coffey – Former Health Secretary Coffey lost her seat to Labour.
- David TC Davies – Wales Secretary Davies, not to be confused with David Davis, lost his seat to Labour.
- Philip Davies – Firebrand Philip Davies, known for his rebellious actions in parliament, lost his seat to Labour.
- Tobias Ellwood – Veteran and liberal Conservative Ellwood lost his seat to Labour.
- Andrea Jenkyns – Ardent Brexiter Andrea Jenkyns lost her seat to Labour.
- Liam Fox – Brexiter and doctor Liam Fox lost his seat to Labour.
- Greg Hands – Former Banker Greg Hands lost his seat to Labour.
- Simon Hart – Chief Whip lost his seat to Labour.
- Gillian Keegan – Education Secretary Gillian Keegan lost her seat to the Liberal Democrats.
- Johnny Mercer – Veteran and Armed Forces activist Johnny Mercer lost his seat to Labour.
- Penny Mordaunt – Leadership favourite and Leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt lost her seat to Labour.
- Victoria Prentis – Attorney General Victoria Prentis lost her seat to Labour.
- Jacob Rees-Mogg – The Honourable Member for the 18th Century Jacob Rees-Mogg lost his seat to Labour.
- Grant Shapps – Defence Secretary Grant Shapps lost his seat to Labour.
- Liz Truss – Former Prime Minister Liz Truss lost her seat to Labour.
Prominent members of other parties lost their seats
- Jonathan Ashworth (Labour) – Shadow Paymaster General Jonathan Ashworth lost his seat to an independent candidate as described above
- Iain Paisley Jr (Democratic Unionist Party) – Ian Paisley Jr. lost his seat to the Traditional Unionist Voice, a seat held by a member of his family for over fifty years.
- George Galloway (Workers Party of Britain) – George Galloway lost his seat to Labour, having won it in a particularly divisive by-election earlier in the year.
Tightest Majorities- Under 250 votes
- Hendon – 15 votes (Labour)
- Poole – 18 votes (Labour)
- Basildon and Billericay – 20 votes (Conservative)
- North West Cambridgeshire – 39 votes (Labour)
- Central Devon – 61 votes (Conservative)
- Stockton West – 70 votes (Conservative)
- Havant – 92 votes (Conservative)
- Peterborough – 118 votes (Labour)
- Beverley and Holderness – 124 votes (Conservative)
- Blackburn – 132 votes (Independent)
- Chelsea and Fulham – 152 votes (Labour)
- East Londonderry – 179 votes (DUP)
- Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland – 214 votes (Labour)
Potential Tory Leaders
With Rishi Sunak out as Party Leader, and several favourites such as Penny Mordaunt having lost their seat, these are some of the people who could take over the Opposition:
- Kemi Badenoch – The outgoing Business and Trade Secretary, Kemi Badenoch was recently embroiled in a row over gender ideology with Doctor Who actor David Tennant. Badenoch is considered a member of the Conservative right.
- Suella Braverman – Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman has been a vehement critic of Rishi Sunak, and believes that the party should go to the right. She is considered a member of the Conservative right.
- James Cleverly – The outgoing Home Secretary, James Cleverly is often seen in the media. He is considered a moderate.
- Jeremy Hunt – The outgoing Chancellor who managed to keep his seat against all expectations, Hunt came second to Boris Johnson in 2019. He has held a variety of cabinet posts, and is considered a moderate.
- Robert Jenrick – The former Immigration Minister, Robert Jenrick has recently taken a harder stance on the border. He is considered to be near the right of the party.
- Priti Patel – The former Home Secretary, Priti Patel has a reputation for being tough. She is considered to be on the Conservative right.
- Tom Tugendhat – Known for his background in the Middle East as a soldier and in other capacities, Tugendhat previously ran as leader in 2019. He has a great interest in defence and security, and is considered a moderate.