From pre-exit poll tension to a new prime minister: How the election played out

As Britain’s general election delivered a landslide victory for Labor and installed Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister, here’s how the night and morning unfolded.

– 22.00

Polling stations across the UK are closing.

An exit poll is released predicting a Labor landslide with the party running for 410 seats and the number of Tory MPs reduced to a record low of 131.

They also forecast the Liberal Democrats with 61 seats, Reform Britain with 13 and the Green Party with two.

In Scotland, the SNP is expected to win 10 seats and Plaid Cymru in Wales has four.

– 11.14 p.m

The first constituency result is announced, with Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson holding Houghton and Sunderland South in Tyne and Wear.

She said in her victory speech: “Tonight the British people have spoken and if tonight’s exit poll is again a guide to the results in our country as it so often is, then after 14 years the British people he chose change”.

– 12:15 p.m

Former Tory Justice Secretary Sir Robert Buckland loses his Swindon South seat to Labor candidate Heidi Alexander, while minutes later Lee Anderson becomes the first elected UK Reform MP after winning the seat in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire.

– 2.40 am

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey holds the London seat of Kingston and Surbiton after a stunt-filled campaign.

In his acceptance speech, Sir Ed says: “It has been a great privilege to serve Kingston and Surbiton and this great community over many years and I am humbled that you have given me the chance to serve you again, so let Let me start by saying a big thank you.”

– 2:58 a.m

Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer holds his seat in London, Holborn and St Pancras.

He said in his address to the counting room: “Tonight, people here and across the country have spoken and are ready for change – to end the politics of performance and return to politics as a public service.

“Change starts right here because this is your democracy, your community and your future. You voted. Now is the time to deliver.”

– between 3 and 4 o’clock

Defense Secretary Grant Shapps loses to Labor in Welwyn Hatfield, while Justice Secretary Alex Chalk loses to the Liberal Democrats in Cheltenham.

Former Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn is beating his old party to keep his seat in Islington North, where he has been MP since 1983, and become an independent MP.

UK reform leader Nigel Farage is elected in Clacton, winning a seat in the British parliament at the eighth attempt.

Speaking in the Essex resort after his victory, Mr Farage said his party’s general election performance was “truly extraordinary”.

He adds: “There is a massive void in the centre-right of British politics and my job is to fill it.”

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan is beaten by Liberal Democrat candidate Jess Brown-Fuller in Chichester.

Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer defeated Labour’s Thangam Debbonaire in Bristol Central in the party’s first election victory.

Reform UK chairman Richard Tice wins in Boston and Skegness to become the party’s fourth MP.

– between 4 and 5 o’clock

In the run-up to the results, ministers continue to lose seats, including House of Commons leader Penny Mordaunt, who is defeated by Labor in Portsmouth North, while senior Tory Jacob Rees-Mogg loses his seat in North East Somerset and Hanham. The work.

But Premier Rishi Sunak holds his seat in Richmond and Northallerton.

Speaking after the result was announced, Mr Sunak said it had been a “difficult night” and that the Labor Party had won the general election.

The Prime Minister says he takes “responsibility” for his party’s loss, called Sir Keir Starmer to congratulate him on his victory and will say more later in London.

– 5 am

Labor wins the general election after reaching the required 326 seats.

Sir Keir Starmer says ‘we did it’ as he delivers a speech at a victory rally in central London to rapturous applause.

The Labor leader says: “We did it. You campaigned for it, you fought for it, you voted for it and now it’s here – the change starts now.”

He adds that the UK will wake up to the “sunlight of hope, pale at first but growing stronger as the day goes on, shining again”.

– 5:31 a.m

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

– between 6 and 7

The Green Party ends a successful night as former co-leader Sian Berry wins Brighton Pavilion, securing the fourth of the party’s four target seats.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper is defeated by Labor in the Forest of Dean and Business and Trade Minister Greg Hands loses Chelsea and Fulham to Labour.

Home Secretary James Cleverly holds his seat in Braintree, Essex, and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is holding off a Lib Dem challenge in Godalming and Ash.

Former Prime Minister Liz Truss becomes the biggest scalp in the Tory bloodbath as she loses her seat in Norfolk South West, where she was defending a notional majority of more than 24,000, to Labour.

She refuses to make a concession speech, but tells the BBC the Tories “have not delivered enough on the policies people want”, including reducing immigration.

In Northern Ireland, Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister is beating the DUP’s Ian Paisley in North Antrim, a seat held by a member of the Paisley family for more than 50 years.

– 10:26 a.m

With just two numbers left to declare, the parties have 412 seats for Labour, while the Conservatives are on 121 and the Liberal Democrats have 71 MPs.

Both the Green Party and Reform have four seats each, while in Scotland the SNP has nine seats and in Wales Plaid Cymru has secured four MPs.

-10.43

In a speech in Downing Street before handing in his resignation to the king, Rishi Sunak addressed the nation, saying he was “sorry”, adding: “I have heard your anger, your disappointment and I take responsibility.”

He also announces he will step down as Tory leader following the general election defeat once formal arrangements have been made for a successor.

– 10.51 am

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

– 12:18 p.m

Sir Keir Starmer becomes Prime Minister after an audience with the King, having arrived at Buckingham Palace 10 minutes early.

– 12:46 p.m

In his first Downing Street address to the nation, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer says: “My government will serve you, politics can be a force for good.

“The work of change begins now, but have no doubt, we will rebuild Britain,” he says, concluding: “Our work is urgent and we are starting it today.”