General election exit poll predicts historic Labour landslide

The general election exit poll has predicted a historic landslide victory for Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour Party.

As polls closed at 10pm today, broadcasters revealed the results of the exit poll, which provides the first indication of how the general election results will play out.

The poll has projected that the Labour Party will win 410 seats compared to the Tory Party, who could end up on just 131 seats.

MORE: General election 2024 live updates as voting takes place in Merseyside

MORE: General election 2024: What time will we know results?

The exit poll - which is commissioned by the BBC, ITV and Sky News, uses fieldwork carried out by IPSOS UK. That work has taken place today, with interviewers based at 133 polling stations around the country, asking voters to privately fill in a replica ballot paper as they leave their local station.

In his first reaction to the exit poll, Sir Keir posted to X to thank voters who had "put their trust in a changed Labour Party."

He added: "To 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,"

The exit poll suggested a number of major figures on the Tory benches were in danger of losing their seats, including Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and defence secretary Grant Shapps.

ECHO reporters stationed at counts across the region reported jubilation - with some notes of caution ahead of the votes actually being counted - among Labour figures who had gathered for the results as the poll results came in. However in Southport, where Tory incumbent Damien Moore faced a challenge from Labour's Patrick Hurley, there were glum faces among Conservative supporters gathered for the count at the town's Splash World water park.

In Liverpool city centre, people gathered at the Vernon Arms on Dale Street, which was planning to open throughout the night to screen the results live.

One person in the pub told the ECHO that although he didn't vote Labour, he was satisfied with the exit poll prediction that the Tories will lose lots of seats. He said: "It's great to see the Tories out - it's really important." He added that he would be happy to see "every minister lose their seat tonight."

Speaking at the count in Bootle, Labour candidate Peter Dowd told us the party had "maintained a focus" on a long-term plan. He said: "We have these exit polls at every general election and they usually tend to be pretty reasonable in their prediction, but as ever let's wait until all these votes are counted."

The predicted outcome for Labour would be one of the party's best-ever election results, just short of the 179-seat majority won under Tony Blair in 1997.

Speaking on Sky News shortly after the exit poll, former health secretary Andy Burnham said Labour was "back in tune with the country", and thanked deputy leader Angela Rayner for "leading from the front" with her colleagues to secure a return to power.

Labour national campaign co-ordinator Pat McFadden said: “Britain’s future was on the ballot at this election. And, if we are successful tonight, Labour will get to work immediately with our first steps for change.”

You can follow all the action from across Merseyside and around the country on our rolling live blog here.

The Liverpool Daily Post newsletter delves into the biggest stories on Merseyside