As voting concluded in the landmark UK general election, an exit poll has forecast a substantial defeat for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party.
Labour, under Keir Starmer, is predicted to secure a resounding victory, marking a significant shift in the political landscape of the country.
Released shortly after polling stations closed on Thursday night, the exit poll suggests that Labour could win as many as 410 seats.
This would comfortably surpass the 326-seat majority threshold and give the party a 170-seat lead over the Conservatives, who are projected to drop to 131 seats.
Labour leader Keir Starmer took to social media to express gratitude to voters and campaigners: "To everyone who has campaigned for Labour in this election, to everyone who voted for us and put their trust in our changed Labour Party — thank you."
Early results showed Labour's momentum, with Houghton and Sunderland in north-east England being the first constituency to declare in favour of Labour's Bridget Phillipson.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also addressed supporters on social media after the release of the exit poll.
"To the hundreds of Conservative candidates, thousands of volunteers and millions of voters: Thank you for your hard work, thank you for your support, and thank you for your vote."
However, his future as the leader of the Conservative Party appears uncertain, as the party braces for a potentially historic loss.
Earlier in the day, Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty were seen casting their votes in Richmond and Northallerton, Yorkshire.
Meanwhile, Starmer and his wife Victoria, donning Labour red, voted in Camden, north London.
Both leaders were among the first to vote, joining millions of citizens in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Throughout the six-week campaign, Sunak faced the daunting task of overcoming voter dissatisfaction with the Conservatives' 14-year tenure.
Conversely, Starmer's Labour Party consistently led in the polls, capitalising on widespread calls for change.
As polling closed, the atmosphere was tense, with candidates from across the political spectrum anxiously awaiting results.
The election saw 650 constituencies contested, with a majority of 326 seats needed to form a government under the first-past-the-post system.
Aside from Labour and the Conservatives, the election featured a diverse array of parties including the Liberal Democrats, Green Party, Scottish National Party (SNP), SDLP, Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Sinn Fein, Plaid Cymru, Workers' Party, the anti-immigration Reform Party, and several independents.
This broad field added to the complexity and unpredictability of the election.
Polling stations across the country operated from 7 am to 10 pm local time, serving an estimated 46 million registered voters.
Despite the extensive campaign efforts, experts had predicted a lower voter turnout compared to the 67 per cent seen in the December 2019 general election, where the Conservatives won 365 seats, securing an 80-seat majority.
In contrast, Labour had won 202 seats, with the SNP, Liberal Democrats, and other parties sharing the remainder.
This election, initiated by Sunak who had until January 2025 to call for it, was unexpected.
Choosing a summer election date on July 4th, he sought to solidify his mandate following his ascent to the prime ministership in October 2022 amidst political upheaval.
Sunak's leadership was marked by his selection as Tory leader and becoming the first Prime Minister of Indian heritage in the UK.
For Starmer, this election represented his first significant test at the polls since taking over from Jeremy Corbyn after Labour's 2019 defeat.
His campaign focused on promises of change and stability, resonating with a populace eager for a shift from the longstanding Conservative governance.
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