Eight things you missed overnight in General Election if you're just waking up

Eight things you've missed overnight if you're just waking up as the General Election results continue to trickle in can now been revealed. Sir Keir Starmer has declared "change begins now" after winning a landslide victory at the general election.

The Labour leader has secured the 326 seats required for a majority in the House of Commons - putting an end to 14 years of Conservative rule. Labour is on course to win 410 seats - more than double what it won at the last election and giving it a majority of 170 in the House of Commons.

That is just shy of the historic the majority of 179 won in 1997 by Sir Tony Blair, Labour's last elected prime minister. The results mean a Labour prime minister in Number 10 for the first time since 2010 and below is everything you need to know as you catch up on the night's antics:

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Keir Starmer is new PM

Sir Keir told a crowd of supporters: "We did it, you campaigned for it, you fought for it, you voted for it and now it has arrived, change begins now." He added the UK is once again experiencing the "sunlight of hope". "The sunlight of hope, pale at first but getting stronger through the day. Shining once again on a country with an opportunity after 14 years to get its future back."

With more than 575 out of 650 seats declared, Labour is expected to form the next government with a majority of at least 100.

Tory big beasts ousted

The defeats of Penny Mordaunt, Gillian Keegan and Grant Shapps were among the jaw-dropping moments of election night. Speaking to the crowd at Portsmouth Guildhall shortly after 4am this morning, Ms Mordaunt said her party had taken a “battering because it failed to honour the trust that people had placed in it”.

Clearly emotional, she said: “Tonight, the Conservative party has taken a battering because it failed to honour the trust that people had placed in it. You can speak all you like of security and freedom, but you can’t have either if you are afraid.

“Afraid about the cost-of-living or accessing healthcare, or whether the responsibility you shoulder will be recognised and rewarded."

Rishi Sunak conceded

The Labour leader has secured the 326 seats required for a majority in the House of Commons - putting an end to 14 years of Conservative rule. Outgoing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had conceded defeat moments before that number was reached, declaring at his election count: "The Labour Party has won this general election and I have called Sir Keir Starmer to congratulate him on his victory."

Reform underwhelmed after promising start

Nigel Farage has been elected as the MP for Clacton, finally succeeding in getting a seat in parliament at his eighth attempt. The Reform UK leader’s victory came on a night when the hardline rightwing party surged in support elsewhere.

They won four seats by 4am on Friday, with the former Conservative deputy chair Lee Anderson successfully defending his seat in Ashfield. But the exit poll had shown them winning a whopping 13 seats in a major boost.

Richard Tice, Reform’s chair and the man who stepped aside so Farage could return, won Lincolnshire constituency of Boston and Skegness, calling it “the proudest day of my life”.

Independents claimed seats

Jonathan Ashworth was defeated by pro-Gaza independent candidate Shockat Adam by fewer than 1,000 votes in Leicester South. Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting narrowly held on in Ilford North by 500 votes after a challenge from another pro-Gaza candidate, Leanne Mohamad.

And Jeremy Corbyn has won Islington North, the constituency he has represented since 1983 – but for the first time has been elected as an independent MP.

Tories point fingers

Sir Robert Buckland slammed Conservative colleagues for saying "stupid" and "inflammatory" things and said he was sick of their "personal agendas". The former Justice Secretary lost to Labour's Heidi Alexander, who won a majority of 9,606 and wiped out Sir Robert's majority of more than 6,000 in Swindon South.

Speaking to the BBC after his loss, Sir Robert said: "I'm fed up of personal agendas, and jockeying for position. The truth is now with the Conservatives facing this electoral Armageddon, it will be like a group of bald men arguing over a comb. I came into politics to actually do Government and to responsibly exercise power in order to make change in this country. I did that in office for many years and I’m proud of my legacy.”

Sunak set to resign

Rishi Sunak is likely to resign, or face an imminent leadership challenge. Kemi Badenoch is the current bookies’ favourite to be the next Tory leader. She also had the highest net satisfaction rating of any Cabinet minister among readers of the influential ConservativeHome website in May.

She came fourth in the contest to succeed Boris Johnson in July 2022, and has hinted at a potential Tory leadership run after the election.

No-shows

Workers Party of Britain leader George Galloway failed to show up at the General Election count that saw him booted out as the MP for Rochdale. The former Rochdale MP, who lost his Rochdale seat to Labour on July 5, claimed to be an MP 'for all Rochdalians' and promised to 'make Rochdale great again' back in February.

Galloway received 11,508 votes, behind Labour’s Paul Waugh, who won the seat with a total of 13,047 votes. The Workers Party leader didn't turn up for the count in Rochdale, which he only won in the by-election four months ago, overturning a labour majority.