Ellen Manning
Election 2024: Starmer appoints Cabinet after Labour's landslide victory
Keir Starmer has appointed his new Labour frontbench after ending 14 years of Conservative political rule.
Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer has got straight to work assembling his Cabinet, after promising to 'rebuild Britain' following Labour's 2024 general election landslide victory.
Rachel Reeves was confirmed as Britain’s first woman chancellor, Angela Rayner is Starmer's Deputy Prime Minister and retained the levelling up, housing and communities brief, and Yvette Cooper is Home Secretary. David Lammy was appointed Foreign Secretary, putting to bed some speculation over whether he would get the post he shadowed in opposition.
The first surprise in the assembly of Labour's top team was the promotion of Lisa Nandy to Culture Secretary, after the holder of the brief in his shadow cabinet, Thangam Debbonaire, lost her seat to the Green Party. Otherwise, the Cabinet mirrors Starmer's shadow team, including Pat McFadden, who played a central role in shaping Labour’s election campaign, being named Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, John Healey Defence Secretary, Shabana Mahmood Justice Secretary, Wes Streeting Health Secretary, Bridget Phillipson Education Secretary and Ed Miliband Energy Secretary.
The Conservatives, meanwhile, suffered huge losses across almost the entire UK, with an apologetic outgoing prime minister Rishi Sunak saying he would quit as Tory leader after the party ended up with its lowest ever number of MPs. In total, 23 Tory 'big beast' MPs lost their seats, including Penny Mordaunt, former PM Liz Truss, Grant Shapps and Jacob Rees-Mogg.
Reform UK secured five seats, although Nigel Farage's first speech as an MP was disrupted by a string of protesters on Friday. With one seat left to declare, Labour had won 412 seats, the Conservatives 121 seats, the Lib Dems 71 and the Greens four. The SNP was decimated in Scotland, going from 48 seats in 2019 to just nine.
Our live coverage has now ended, but you can see our previous updates, insights and reaction below from a dramatic UK election night. For the latest news, visit the Yahoo UK Homepage.
LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER311 updates
Starmer's Britain in 2024 is very different to Blair's in 1997
Labour's landslide election victory over the Tories is drawing regular comparisons to Tony Blair's victory in 1997.
But Britain in 2024 is somewhat different to the country Blair led as prime minister.
In this from Sky News, Adam Boulton sums up the events of the last few months and what could lie ahead for the country's new prime minister compared to what Blair faced over two decades ago.
Who are Sir Keir Starmer's new Labour MPs?
The new Labour MPs serving under Starmer have a range of backgrounds. (Getty) Keir Starmer’s landslide majority has seen the arrival of more than 200 new Labour MPs elected, including dozens of Westminster insiders, trade unionists and a former rock musician.
Almost half of the newcomers have a background as a local councillor but some have slightly less obvious backgrounds, including a former Wimbledon tennis umpire, a Bafta-winning screenwriter and a diplomat who specialised in hostage recovery in Afghanistan.
Find out more about the new Labour MPs in this piece in the Telegraph.
How David Lammy has criticised world leaders in the past
Will David Lammy be able to work with world leaders he's previously criticised? (Getty) David Lammy has never been reticent when it comes to criticising global leaders in the past.
But as Sir Keir Starmer’s new foreign secretary, he may have to work with some of those leaders.
On Friday, Lammy was asked if he would be willing to work with Donald Trump should he be re-elected, saying: “I will work closely with whoever is in the White House in the end. The US is a great democracy.
“In democracies, of course, there is debate and discussion and difference. We’ve seen that over the last six weeks in our own country, but the job of international security, the key partnership role that the UK and US play is hugely important.”
Read about Lammy's past comments to leaders in the Telegraph.
World leaders react to Keir Starmer and Labour's 'remarkable' win
Congratulations have poured in from world leaders to Keir Starmer after his election victory.
Leaders to send well-wishes alongside Joe Biden included Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Canada's prime minister Justin Trudeau and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also sent messages to Starmer, as did Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president.
Read more on which leaders have sent messages to the new prime minister on Sky News.
Starmer and Biden set to meet at Nato summit next week
Joe Biden and Keir Starmer will meet at the Nato summit next week. (AP) Sir Keir Starmer has spoken to Joe Biden and the two leaders are looking forward to meeting at the Nato summit next week, Downing Street has said.
A spokesperson said: “The prime minister spoke to the president of the United States Joe Biden this afternoon. The president congratulated the prime minister on his election victory and the prime minister thanked him for his kind words.
“The leaders discussed their shared commitment to the special relationship between the UK and US, and their aligned ambitions for greater economic growth.
“Discussing geopolitical challenges, the leaders reiterated their steadfast commitment to Ukraine and the prime minister underscored that the UK’s support for Ukraine was unwavering.
“The prime minister said he looked forward to working side by side across the breadth of the relationship, including the Aukus partnership and ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific. The leaders reflected on their shared commitment to protecting the gains of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement.
“The prime minister and president looked forward to seeing each other at the Nato Summit in Washington next week.”
Diane Abbott to take up 'Mother of the House' role in parliament
Diane Abbott will take up one of the most esteemed roles in the Commons. (PA) Diane Abbott is set to take up one of the most esteemed positions in the House of Commons after retaking her Hackney North and Stoke Newington seat.
Abbott will become Mother of the House in the new parliament - a role given to the longest continuously serving female member of parliament.
The previous holder was Harriet Harman, who stepped down at this election.
Read more about Abbott's new role in the Evening Standard.
How can you not admire Rishi Sunak’s stoic dignity on leaving Downing Street?
Critics and supporters alike watched Rishi Sunak concede defeat to his Labour opponent, along with an apology to the nation.
Standing at the lectern where he stood not long ago in the rain, Sunak said: “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.”
Read thoughts in the Independent on why so many people may be feeling sorry for Sunak as he steps away from the top job in the country after such an historic defeat.
Sir Patrick Vallance appointed science minister
Sir Patrick Vallance has been made a science minister. (Getty) Sir Patrick Vallance, who was chief scientific adviser to the government during the Covid pandemic, has been appointed a science minister in the department for science, innovation and technology.
Sir Patrick, who will also be made a peer, has backed Labour’s flagship manifesto pledge to set up a publicly owned energy firm.
James Timpson OBE, of Timpson shoe repairs, will also be made a peer as well as prisons, parole and probation minister in the Ministry of Justice. He has advocated for employing former prisoners.
Cabinet roles continue with chief whip and attorney general roles
Starmer has been appointing his top team all afternoon. (Getty) Sir Keir Starmer has appointed Sir Alan Campbell as chief whip and Darren Jones as Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
Barrister Richard Hermer KC will become Attorney General rather than Emily Thornberry, who was shadow attorney general when Labour was in opposition.
They will all attend Cabinet and Mr Hermer will become a lifetime peer, Downing Street said.
The 2024 general election in numbers
It's been an historic election for so many reasons - with plenty of shocking figures to analyse.
Data experts have been pulling the information from the election apart and analysing it throughout the day - looking at everything from turnout to vote share to swings.
This piece from the Independent looks at the election in numbers, with all the key figures you need to know.
Starmer appoints leaders of Commons and Lords
The leaders of the Houses of Commons and Lords have been appointed. (Stock image: Getty) Sir Keir Starmer has appointed leaders of the upper and lower houses of Parliament.
Manchester Central MP Lucy Powell will be Leader of the House of Commons as well as Lord President of the Council.
Baroness Smith of Basildon will be Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal.
Both previously served in the shadow cabinet in the same roles.
What did the King say to Keir Starmer when the pair met today?
King Charles III welcomes Sir Keir Starmer during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the leader of the Labour Party to become prime minister and form a new government. (Getty) King Charles played a key role in the aftermath of the general election - welcoming Sir Keir Starmer to Buckingham Palace for a private audience where he invited him to become prime minister.
A video of the pair's meeting revealed the King telling Starmer: “You must be exhausted and nearly on your knees", to which Starmer responded: “Not much sleep”.
Later in the meeting, the PM highlighted the “quick change around” since the results were first announced, to which the King remarked: “To say the least. And having to get to grips with everything straight away must be quite exhausting.”
A little bit of video just released by, and filmed by, Buckingham Palace of the moment at midday when King Charles met Sir Keir Starmer and asked him to become his third prime minister and form a new administration.
( 🎥 @RoyalFamily ) pic.twitter.com/0CDmhm8sJi— Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) July 5, 2024
Recap: Who is in Sir Keir Starmer's cabinet?
In case you'd lost track, here are all the cabinet appointments that have been made today following Labour's election win.
Rachel Reeves - chancellor
Angela Rayner - deputy prime minister and levelling-up secretary
David Lammy - foreign secretary
Yvette Cooper - home secretary
Wes Streeting - health secretary
Pat McFadden - chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
John Healey - defence secretary
Shabana Mahmood - justice secretary
Bridget Phillipson - education secretary
Ed Miliband - net zero secretary
Liz Kendall - work and pensions secretary
Peter Kyle - science secretary
Louise Haigh - transport secretary
Jonathan Reynolds - business secretary
Steve Reed - environment secretary
Jo Stevens - Wales secretary
Ian Murray - Scotland secretary
Hilary Benn - Northern Ireland secretary
Lisa Nandy - culture secretary
Cabinet roles for Lisa Nandy, Steve Reed and Hilary Benn
In the first surprise of Sir Keir Starmer’s cabinet assembly, Lisa Nandy was promoted to culture secretary.
Other expected appointments announced by Downing Street saw Steve Reed named environment, food and rural affairs secretary, Hilary Benn Northern Ireland secretary, Ian Murray Scotland secretary and Jo Stevens secretary of state for Wales.
Reform UK wins fifth seat after recount in Basildon South and East Thurrock
Live blog breaking Reform UK have won a fifth seat after a recount in Basildon South and East Thurrock.
James McMurdock won the seat with a majority of just 98 votes from Labour candidate Jack Ferguson.
He joins leader Nigel Farage as the second Reform UK MP in Essex.
Chaotic scenes as protestors heckle Nigel Farage
Live blog graphic Recap Chaotic scene unfolded as Nigel Farage was heckled by protestors as he tried to start a speech in central London.
As the Reform UK leader tried to give as good as he got, he told his supporters: “This is good preparation for the House of Commons I suppose, isn’t it? It’s going to be very lively in there.”
When Farage asked: “Any more for any more?” there was a pause before one man shouted: “Actually yes.”
Farage added: “We haven’t organised this very well, have we?”
Farage was heckled at the event in London. (Getty) A heckler is removed by security during a Reform UK press conference presenting their programme for the upcoming parliament. (Getty) Hecklers meant Farage's speech was marred by chaotic scenes. (Getty) Reform has secured four seats in the Commons. (Getty) Nigel Farage is the new MP for Clacton. (Getty) Yvette Cooper says first steps include neighbourhood police and border security
Yvette Cooper has listed her priorities as home secretary. (PA) Yvette Cooper said her first steps as home secretary would be to “get neighbourhood police back on our streets” and to set up a “new Border Security Command”.
Speaking outside the Home Office, she said: “The first duty of any government is to keep our country safe, to keep our communities safe and to keep our borders secure.
“That is why my first task as I go into the Home Office will be Labour’s first steps – which means trying to get neighbourhood police back on our streets, in our communities, and also setting up the new Border Security Command to go after the criminal boat gangs that are organising the dangerous boat crossings."
She said the "difficult legacy" she had inherited would mean "hard graft and not gimmicks" are needed, adding: “We also know that it feels that our communities have faced damage, and often feel felt fractured and sometimes brittle as well, and our task has to be to bring people back together and to restore respect and to restore trust – as Keir Starmer has said today, to restore politics to public service as well.
“Let the change begin.”
Further cabinet appointments for Starmer's top team
Keir Starmer has been appointing his cabinet. (PA) Further cabinet appointments include Liz Kendall as work and pensions secretary, Jonathan Reynolds as business secretary and president of the Board of Trade.
Peter Kyle has been appointed science, innovation and technology secretary, and Louise Haigh is transport secretary.
Frontbenchers continue to arrive at Downing Street
Lisa Nandy arrives at 10 Downing Street, following the results of the election. (Reuters) Lisa Nandy, Ian Murray, Louise Haigh, Lucy Powell and Liz Kendall were in the next wave of Labour frontbenchers to arrive at Downing Street as Sir Keir Starmer appoints his government.
Nandy walked into No 10 nearly a year after she was demoted from the shadow cabinet.
Wearing an all-grey suit, she smiled at reporters and entered the building at around 3.35pm.
Shortly afterwards new chancellor Rachel Reeves left No 10 and appeared to head towards the Treasury.
Rachel reeves becomes UK's first female chancellor
Rachel Reeves arrives at 10 Downing Street following the landslide victory for the Labour Party. (Alamy) Rachel Reeves has been appointed by Sir Keir Starmer as chancellor of the exchequer, becoming the first woman to take charge of the Treasury.
The former Bank of England economist retains the brief she held in the shadow cabinet, as expected.
Who is in Keir Starmer's Cabinet? Meet the new Labour frontbench
Angela Rayner arrives at Downing Street 10, following the results of the election. (Reuters) Angela Rayner has been named deputy prime minister as Sir Keir Starmer assembles his cabinet as Labour form a government.
A number of top Labour MPs have started arriving at 10 Downing Street.
Earlier, in his first speech as prime minister, Starmer vowed to bring trust back to politics and restore hope to the nation.
His lieutenants started arriving into the famous door from 2.30pm, with Rayner the first to go through. She was later confirmed as deputy prime minister.
Read the full story from Yahoo News.
Lee Anderson says he's scared of Starmer and his 'motley crew'
Lee Anderson said he was scared of Keir Starmer and his 'motley crew'. (Reuters) Lee Anderson claimed he would be looking at Sir Keir Starmer’s Government in the Commons and thinking “what has our country come to”.
The Reform UK MP said the UK’s prime minister and his “motley crew absolutely scares me to death, I’m going to be sat on the green benches next week looking at them and thinking what has our country come to”.
How can you not admire Rishi Sunak’s stoic dignity on leaving Downing Street?
Don’t you feel sorry for Rishi Sunak? I know I do, writes Caroline Brown for The Independent; he emerged from 10 Downing Street this morning, greeted by the same rain that ushered in his snap general election back in May (for this prime minister, it never rains but it pours.)
His tired eyes and hangdog expression told the story of the night: a Labour landslide and an historic Conservative defeat. Perhaps, though, they also told the story of his entire poison-chalice premiership, one tainted by the four leaders who had come before him. He looked exhausted. Who wouldn’t?
Read the full story from The Independent.
Elmo eclipses Count Binface as UK’s election star
Keir Starmer (left)'s vuctory speech was watched by Nick the Incredible Flying Brick (second right) and Bobby "Elmo" Smith (right). (Alamy) Some of Britain’s comedy political candidates proved to be only slightly more of a joke than the actual governing party on Thursday night.
The incumbent Conservative Party was crushed in a general election which saw their Labour rivals sweep to power in a landslide win after 14 years in opposition—with several major Tory figures losing their seats along the way. Adding to their humiliation, in some cases, was the indignity of making their concession speeches alongside truly bizarre rival candidates.
Read the full story from the Daily Beast.
The eight pictures you’d only ever seen on a British election night
Former Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg stands next to Barmy Brunch from The Official Monster Raving Loony Party. (Getty Images) It was a night when British politics underwent serious reconstructive surgery. Depending on your allegiances it was glorious, surprising, delightful, shocking and miserable. Hundreds of candidates are waking up in a very different world.
Whatever the colour of your rosette, however, there were also moments of high comedy. No electoral system better understands the potential, within all that life-changing seriousness, for the odd giggle. The candidates managed to maintain their sense of humour, too. Even Liz Truss, just about. Read on for The Telegraph's take on some of the highlights.
Starmer ‘excluded deaf community’ in first speech as PM, says charity
Prime minister Keir Starmer was accused of ignoring the deaf community. (PA) Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of excluding the deaf community by not having a sign language interpreter with him as he made his first speech as prime minister.
According to the hearing charity RNID, government officials have pledged to have British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters on hand for big announcements from spring 2024.
Read the full story from PA.
Factbox-UK election: What happened?
Labour surged to a landslide victory in Britain's parliamentary election, ending 14 years of often tumultuous Conservative government and propelling Keir Starmer to power as prime minister.
Get the full story from Reuters for everything you need to know about Labour's landslide victory.
Scottish independence ‘a hard sell’ say SNP after losing 38 seats
It was a tough night for SNP leader John Swinney. (Alamy) The SNP has just 18 months to save the case for Scottish independence after suffering a drubbing in the general election, its Westminster leader Stephen Flynn has admitted.
The nationalists lost their position as Scotland’s dominant party in the House of Commons, losing 38 of 47 their seats – mostly to a resurgent Labour – and dealing a huge blow to their hopes of securing another independence referendum.
It’s their lowest number of seats at Westminster since 2010, and means they have dropped from the third-largest party, with a question every week at PMQs, to the fourth-largest.
