Election 2024 – As it happened

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer got straight to work assembling his Cabinet after promising to rebuild trust in politics and restore hope to the nation after a landslide Labour victory in the General Election.

Rachel Reeves was confirmed as Britain’s first woman chancellor, Angela Rayner is Sir Keir’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 the Labour leader’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 Sir Keir’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.

In his first speech on Downing Street, Sir Keir said the British people had voted “decisively for change”.

Sir Keir said the country could “move forward together” as Labour took office following 14 years of Conservative rule.

He said: “Now our country has voted decisively for change, for national renewal and a return of politics to public service.

“When the gap between the sacrifices made by people and the service they receive from politicians grows this big, it leads to a weariness in the heart of a nation, a draining away of the hope, the spirit, the belief in a better future.

“But we need to move forward together. Now this wound, this lack of trust can only be healed by actions not words, I know that.

“But we can make a start today with the simple acknowledgement that public service is a privilege and that your government should treat every single person in this country with respect.”

Rishi Sunak has said “I am sorry” to the nation as he began his final speech as Prime Minister.

After stepping out onto a drizzly Downing Street, he said: “I will shortly be seeing His Majesty the King to offer my resignation as Prime Minister.

“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.”

Mr Sunak praised Sir Keir Starmer as a “decent, public-spirited man who I respect” as he conceded defeat outside Number 10.

The Prime Minister said “whatever our disagreements,” he wished Sir Keir and his family well as they make “the huge transition to their new lives behind this door”.

Rishi Sunak said he was “proud” of his achievements and believes the UK is “more prosperous, fairer and resilient than it was in 2010”.

The Prime Minister cited the negotiation of the Windsor Framework and efforts to support Ukraine during his premiership.

“I’m proud of those achievements. I believe this country is safer, stronger and more secure than it was 20 months ago,” he said.

“It is more prosperous, fairer and resilient than it was in 2010.”

A record number of Conservative Cabinet members have lost their seats, beating the previous record of seven defeats in 1997.

Members of Rishi Sunak’s Cabinet and high-profile Tories who have lost their seats include…

Grant Shapps

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps lost his seat as MP for Welwyn Hatfield to Labour’s Andrew Lewin.

Mr Shapps has held a series of Cabinet positions under four Tory prime ministers – including energy security and net zero secretary, business secretary and home secretary.

Liz Truss

Former prime minister Liz Truss was the biggest scalp in the Tory bloodbath – booted out of office after losing her Norfolk South West seat by 630 votes.

She was Britain’s shortest-serving PM, with her tenure in Downing Street lasting just 49 days.

A Remain supporter, Ms Truss became the darling of the Brexit-backing Conservative right wing, winning the Tory leadership contest in September 2022.

But her time in Downing Street, which spanned the death of Queen Elizabeth II, ended in disaster after her damaging mini budget, which included unfunded tax cutting measures, triggered mass market turmoil.

Penny Mordaunt

The House of Commons Leader, Penny Mordaunt, lost her Portsmouth North seat to Labour’s Amanda Martin.

It was thought that Ms Mordaunt, who went viral for carrying two heavy swords at the King’s coronation, would run for the party leadership if she managed to hang on to her seat.

She had two failed bids under her belt, having lost to Liz Truss and then Mr Sunak. She became an MP in 2010 and was made the UK’s first female defence secretary in 2019 but was bumped from the role after 85 days in a reshuffle.

Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg

The veteran Tory MP lost his Somerset North East and Hanham seat to Labour’s Dan Norris, who said: “We’ve got Mogg-xit done.”

He had previously held roles including Business Secretary, Leader of the Commons and Minister for Brexit Opportunities and Government efficiency.

The Arch-Brexiteer and father-of-six has courted controversy in his time, having to apologise in 2019 for suggesting Grenfell victims should have used “common sense” and ignored fire service guidance not to leave the burning tower block, and in 2022 dismissing as a “non-story” the fact the Metropolitan Police had issued more than 100 fines over the partygate scandal.

Dame Therese Coffey

Tory former deputy prime minister Dame Therese Coffey was defeated by Labour in Suffolk Coastal.

She held a number of previous roles, including Deputy Leader of the House of Commons, and served on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee until she was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to Michael Fallon, Minister for Business and Energy.

Alec Shelbrooke has taken the Wetherby and Easingwold seat on a 70% turnout.

Here are the results:

• Alec Shelbrooke – Conservative: 20,597
• Ben Pickles – Labour: 15,751
• Mike Jordan – Reform UK: 7,288
• Arnold Warneken – Green: 4,529
• James Monaghan – Lib Dem: 3,351
• John Hall – Yorkshire Party: 743

Here are some extracts from Keir Mather’s acceptance speech after he won the newly formed Selby seat.

“Today marks almost a year since the Selby by election, which to some people feels like five minutes, to other people 1,000 years, I’m sure.

“But it was a moment when local people made history, overturning what was then the largest majority in a by-election since the Second World War, and sending me to Parliament to deliver the fresh start that our community deserved.

“I worked tirelessly to deliver, but people also knew that real, transformative change was only possible if we had a Labour government that was on our side.

“Now, at this election, people didn’t just hope for that change, they voted for it, and they’ve now granted us the opportunity and the responsibility to rebuild our country and restore faith in our politics.”

He also acknowledged the change in the boundaries of the constituency.

“My promise is to be an active, visible and hardworking local MP for our entire constituency.

“That is especially true for everyone who lives in Kippax, Methley, Allerton Bywater and Micklefield, who form the new and very welcome West Yorkshire part of our new constituency.

“You deserve an equal voice in this new constituency and a strong voice in a Labor government, and I will fight to make sure that you get both and ensure that your area is never taken for granted again.”

After securing the Holborn and St Pancras seat, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer pledged to “end the politics of performance”.

He said: “Tonight people here and around the country have spoken and they’re ready for change – to end the politics of performance and return to politics as public service.

“The change begins right here because this is your democracy, your community and your future. You have voted. It is now time for us to deliver.”

Sir Keir said he had to thank his wife Vic and his family “more than anyone” for keeping him “grounded”.

He added: “I’d like to pay tribute to my fellow candidates who put themselves forward for public service, because in this room, right here, beats the heart of our democracy, not in Westminster, or Whitehall, but in town halls and community centres up and down the country.

“In polling stations and voting booths, and most of all, in the hands of people who hold the power of the vote. It all starts here.”

Sir Keir continued: “Whether you voted for me or not, I will serve every person in this constituency.

“The mothers I sat with who lost children to knife crime, the pensioners who can’t get the doctor’s appointments they desperately need, the local businesses who’ve struggled so hard to keep their head above water. I will speak out for you. Have your back. Fight your corner, every single day.”

Here’s more on the Hull Road by-election win, from Joe Gerrard – the York Local Democracy Reporter…

Labour have held on to their majority on York Council after winning the Hull Road ward by-election.

Labour candidate John Moroney won the seat in the east of the city with 1,203 votes while Liberal Democrat Andrew Mortimer coming second with 1,008.

Green Ben French finished third with 602 of the 3,127 ballots cast while Conservative Ellis Holden came fourth with 314.

Labour group and council leader Coun Claire Douglas told the Local Democracy Reporting Service they were over the moon with the result but added it was never in doubt for them.

The result was the first to be declared in York with ballots still being counted in the early hours of Friday (July 5) for the general election.

Mr Moroney’s victory means that Labour will continue to hold an overall majority on York Council with 24 of the authority’s 47 seats.

The Liberal Democrat opposition has 19 councillors, the Conservatives three and there is one independent.

The party first took control of the council for the first time since 2015 last year.

Mr Moroney, a retired GP, said prior to the vote that he was particularly interested in health and social care issues and was excited by Labour’s free school meals pilot.

Labour’s victory in York comes as exit polls were predicting that the party would win the general election by a landslide after 14 years in opposition.

Labour group leader Coun Douglas said the voters in Hull Road had responded to their positive campaign.

The group leader said: “John’s going to be a fantastic councillor for the ward.

“It shows that Labour continues to have a great track record on delivering free school meals, affordable housing and reversing the blue badge ban.”

Tim has caught up with the undoubted star of Election 2024 – Count Binface.

He is standing against Rishi Sunak in the Richmond and Northallerton constituency.

“Now, I had a wonderful campaign. I’ve enjoyed traversing the wonders of Richmond and Northallerton, climaxing in me visiting the mini golf course at Richmond swimming pool. Get yourself down there. It’s fantastic. We have a good one here as well, in Northallerton,” the Count began.

And then he talks about his plan to tackle traffic on Northallerton High Street by building a space bridge.

Asked about his chances in the constituency where the Prime Minister is defending his seat, Binface told PA: “This time, not so sure. I think I am confident of victory, not numerically, but poetically and morally I think the triumph is mine, certainly compared to Rishi soon-axed.

“Let’s just say he has brought an electoral asteroid upon the Conservative party and I am enjoying watching it smash.”

Here are the policies that Sir Archibald Stanton of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party will enact if he beats Rishi Sunak in Richmond & Northallerton tonight.

He was revealing all to Tim Lichfield…

Labour has kept its majority on City of York Council after candidate John Moroney won Hull Road ward in a four-way race.

More to come on this.

After his video interview with Niko, Tim has now stumbled across Sir Archibald Stanton, The Official Monster Raving Loony Party candidate for Richmond & Northallerton.

“It gets weirder,” said Tim.

Still no sign of Rishi Sunak though.

We have the turnout in the Harrogate seat, via Ben Anderson.

Harrogate turnout

• 15,443 Postal
• 36,745 Normal
• Total Ballots 52,188 
• 66.95%

They are expecting the result in 15 minutes, following a delay to the postal vote.

Here’s Ben reporting:

Tim Lichfield has been talking to the Independent candidate at the Richmond & Northallerton count, Niko Omilana.

He told us that “I stand for the youth, I stand for the truth”. And he’s asked his friend Batman to fill in all the potholes in Northallerton.

Also Niko said he expected to become Prime Minister by the end of the night. And then “the country is saved”.

Watch the whole extraordinary interview below.

Everything’s hotting up at Northallerton Leisure Centre as the votes are counted for the Richmond & Northallerton constituency. It’s Rishi Sunak’s seat.

Here’s how things stood when it was the Richmond (Yorks) constituency, after the election of 2019.

2019 result

Counting is now underway at the Harrogate Convention Centre, reports Ben Anderson.

It is the venue for the results from four seats:

• Harrogate & Knaresborough
• Wetherby & Easingwold
• Selby
• Skipton & Ripon

Kevin Foster, the Green candidate for the Richmond and Northallerton constituency, said he believed Rishi Sunak would hold onto the seat.

Mr Foster, a North Yorkshire councillor and the first candidate to arrive at the count in Northallerton Leisure Centre, said: “I think Rishi will hold on by between 7,000 and 5,000 votes.

“I think there are still some people sympathetic to him and the alternative is just not there for them. I think they are reluctant but they have come out reluctantly to vote for him. That is my feeling knocking on the doors, but it is really hard this one.”

Mr Foster, wearing a dark green suit and a Greens rosette, also spoke of the disruptive influence of Reform UK on the election, telling PA: “Basically, Reform has got the bottle, shook it up, and we are all over the place, and I have heard that from other parties as well.”

Mr Foster is North Yorkshire Council’s armed forces champion. He served as an army reservist between 1985 and 2015, and spent six months on tour in Iraq in 2003 as an army chef.

He shares his name with the Conservative candidate for Torbay in Devon.

Here’s Tim Lichfield reporting live from Richmond & Northallerton, the constituency of the current PM Rishi Sunak

Here are some of the first ballot boxes arriving at the count at York Racecourse tonight. They arrived at 10.13pm.

A silver Mercedes was the first to arrive, with boxes from the YO1 postcode. They were quickly taken in to the counting tables which are on the ground floor.