London, July 5: Exit polls for the UK General Elections 2024 predict a landslide victory for Britain's main Opposition, the Labour Party. Final results are expected by late Friday morning (IST). Keir Starmer, Labour's leader, is anticipated to replace Rishi Sunak as UK prime minister.

The centre-left Labour Party is projected to win 410 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons, surpassing the majority mark by 170 seats. Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party is expected to secure only 131 seats, marking a record low. Additionally, Nigel Farage's anti-immigration Reform UK party is predicted to win 13 seats. UK General Elections 2024 Results: Labour Party Set To End Conservative Dominance, Keir Starmer Likely New Prime Minister, Exit Poll Projects.

Who is Keir Starmer?

Keir Starmer, who has spent four years as opposition leader, has shifted Labour's stance from the far left to the political middle ground. His campaign emphasised that a Labour government would bring change, likely reassuring voters skeptical of the party. Starmer, a former prosecutor for England and Wales (2008-2013), was often labeled by opponents as a "lefty London lawyer," according to AP. He was knighted for leading the Crown Prosecution Service, with Conservative rivals using the title "Sir Keir Starmer" to depict him as elite and out of touch. UK General Election 2024: Voting Begins in British Polls; Future of Rishi Sunak As Prime Minister Hangs in Balance.

Born in 1962 to a toolmaker and a nurse, Starmer comes from a modest background and was named after Keir Hardie, Labour's first leader. Raised in a cash-strapped household outside London, Starmer is an avid Arsenal fan who enjoys watching games at his local pub. He has two teenage children with his wife, who works in occupational health for the NHS, and prefers to keep his family out of the media spotlight.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 05, 2024 08:30 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).