UK elections 2024: Exit poll shows landslide victory for Labour Party

The Labour Party has won a majority in the UK general election, according to an exit poll released shortly after voting ended.

The poll showed Labour on 410 seats, with the currently ruling Conservative Party reduced to 131.

It also showed the anti-immigration party Reform UK on 13, along with losses for the Scottish National Party, predicted to win just 10.

With the first two seats declared for Labour, Reform showed major gains, coming in at second place far above the Conservatives. The party grew out of the Brexit Party founded by Nigel Farage, which touted the UK's committment to leaving the European Union.

While the final results will trickle in overnight, the exit poll is usually accurate and unless there is a major upset Labour leader Keir Starmer will become the next British prime minister.

The election had been widely predicted to wipe out the Conservative Party, who have faced severe criticism over their handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, a cost of living crisis and crumbling public services.

However, the exit poll suggests the Conservatives performing better than some of the worst pre-election polls, some of which gave the party only around 60 seats.

The leaders of both Labour and the Conservative Party thanked their volunteers for their contributions.

"To the hundreds of Conservative candidates, thousands of volunteers and millions of voters," Prime Minister Rishi Sunak posted on X (formerly Twitter).

"Thank you for your hard work, thank you for your support, and thank you for your vote."

Starmer also thanked 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".

Both major parties have faced challenges from independents and smaller parties over their support for Israel's assault on the Gaza Strip.

For months, many voters across the UK had voiced dissatisfaction with Labour, especially over the party's early stance when it called for an "enduring cessation of fighting" in Gaza instead of a comprehensive ceasefire.

Starmer also appeared to back Israel's decision to cut Gaza from power, water and other necessities, despite most legal experts condemning the move as a war crime.

Although the party later shifted its position and Labour denied Starmer was supportive of Israel's total siege, much of the British public said they felt compelled to vote for an unwaveringly pro-ceasefire candidate and party.

The left-wing Green Party has campaigned heavily in several areas on its support for a ceasefire in Gaza and the suspension of arms sales to Israel. The exit poll predicted the Greens to win two of the four seats it was in contention for taking.