SIR Keir Starmer declared “we did it” and said today “we begin the next chapter” as his party won a landslide election.
In his victory speech, the Labor leader said the UK was once again experiencing the “sunshine of hope”.
Conservative leader Rishi Sunak conceded defeat after a “worrying” night for his party, which saw a record eight ministers lose their seats.
It is understood Sir Keir received a phone call just before 4am as he was in a car with his wife Vic on the way to the Labor victory rally.
In the iconic Tate Modern turbine room, Sir Keir said the country could now “reclaim its future”.
He told jubilant activists that “we did it”, adding: “Change starts now.”
Sir Keir said: “You campaigned for it, you fought for it, you voted for it and now it’s here – change starts now. It feels good, I have to be honest.
“Four and a half years of working to change the party, that’s what it’s for – a changed Labor Party, ready to serve our country, ready to return Britain to the service of working people.
“And across our country, people will wake up to the news, relieved that a weight has been lifted, a burden finally lifted from the shoulders of this great nation.
“And now we can look forward, walking into the morning, the sunlight of hope, pale at first but growing brighter as the day goes on, shining once more, upon a country with the opportunity, after 14 years, to recover your future.”
He continued: “Today we begin the next chapter, we begin the work of change, the mission of national renewal and we begin to rebuild our country.”
Sir Keir is said to have punched the air and given his wife Victoria a hug when he heard the results of the exit poll.
He was at a friend’s house in central London with his wife and a small group of friends and aides to observe the results.
It turns out Sir Keir promised “I will fight for you every day” as he announced it was “time for the Labor Party to deliver” in a rousing speech.
He has made bold claims by retaining his Holborn and St Pancras seat by a large majority and a ticket to number 10 beckons.
Earlier, Sir Keir was greeted by jubilant supporters as he arrived at the earl alongside his wife Victoria.
On a historic night:
Speaking at the count, he said: “It is a huge privilege to be re-elected to serve this constituency, Holborn and St Pancras.
“My home, where my children grew up, where my wife was born. I have to thank Vic and my family more than anyone for their love and support and for keeping me completely grounded.”
He added: “Whether you voted for me or not, I will serve all the people in this constituency.”
Sir Keir also promised to “end performance politics”, adding: “Tonight people here and across the country have spoken and are ready for change – end performance politics 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 it’s time for us to deliver.”
Starmer knew it was going to be a good night when exit polls predicted a 170-seat majority for the Labor Party across the UK.
The Labor Party regained constituencies lost to Boris Johnson at the Red Wall in 2019.
And the Reds ousted Tory big guns, including Sir Robert Buckland in Swindon South and former Tory Speaker Amanda Milling in Cannock Chase.
Two Tory heavyweights, Defense Secretary Grant Shapps and Justice Secretary Alex Chalk, lost their seats.
Former Defense Secretary Shapps was one of the most experienced cabinet ministers in the election – and was expected to throw his hat into the leadership contest.
Taking a jab at conservatives, he fumed: “Today, voters simply said, ‘If you don’t agree with each other, then we can’t agree to vote for you.’
UK reform chief Nigel Farage was elected in Clacton with 21,225 votes and said his party is now targeting Labour.
Farage said it was “the first step in something that will surprise you all” and “we are coming for Labour”.
The Conservatives’ previous worst result was 156 seats in 1906.
Sir Keir expected to be invited by King Charles to form the next government on Friday morning.
He will then name his Cabinet before finalizing a flurry of new laws to be announced to Parliament on July 17.
The Labor Party’s expected victory represents a significant turnaround from five years ago, when the party suffered its worst defeat since 1935 under Corbyn.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story