Senior Labour figures reacted with glad tears and cheers as information broke that the social gathering is about for an enormous landslide common election victory – with Wes Streeting breaking down and Andy Burnham celebrating like a soccer fan.
Mr Streeting, lined as much as be the nation’s new Well being Secretary, ‘welled up’ because the exit ballot was revealed at 1pm – tipping Sir Keir Starmer’s social gathering for a majority of 170.
And Higher Manchester mayor Mr Burnham, a former Well being Secretary himself, punched their air and appeared misplaced for phrases on Sky Information earlier than finally exclaiming: ‘It is sensible.’
However Labour’s deputy chief Angela Rayner was extra cautious when interviewed on BBC Information in regards to the ballot figures, saying she was ‘not counting her chickens’.
Sir Keir’s projected majority could be simply in need of Sir Tony Blair’s 179 in 1997, whereas Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives are anticipated to win simply 131 seats – 234 down from their common election victory below Boris Johnson 5 years in the past.
Higher Manchester’s Labour mayor Andy Burnham gave a soccer fan-style celebration when information of the exit ballot figures was introduced on Sky Information the place he was a studio visitor
Shadow Well being Secretary Wes Streeting is claimed to have ‘welled up’ in a BBC studio
The Liberal Democrats are predicted to make 50 features, reaching 61 MPs, with Reform profitable 13 seats and the SNP slumping from
The BBC’s chief political correspondent Henry Zefferman mentioned: ‘I’ve simply watched Wes Streeting, the shadow well being secretary, as he noticed the exit ballot introduced in our Westminster studio.
‘His eyes welled up with tears as Rachel Burden mentioned the phrases “Labour landslide”.’
In the meantime, Mr Burnham hoisted his arms within the air because the figures had been introduced on Sky Information the place he was a studio visitor alongside former Scottish Conservatives chief Baroness Ruth Davidson.
He additionally closed his eyes and held his fingers collectively in entrance of his face in a praying movement, as he gasped in gleeful astonishment on the numbers.
Former Labour cupboard minister Lord Mandelson, one of many key figures behind Sir Tony’s 1997 landslide, tonight mentioned he was ‘gobsmacked’ by the exit ballot.
He famous Ms Rayner’s warning however instructed the BBC: ‘I am allowed to be slightly bit extra gobsmacked. I believe that an electoral meteor has now struck planet Earth.
‘In a way it isn’t shocking given all the pieces the nation’s gone by means of during the last 10 years.
The exit ballot predicting a thumping victory for Labour was revealed at 10pm as voting closed
Labour’s deputy chief Angela Rayner mentioned she was ‘not counting her chickens’ however prompt voters had been punishing the Conservatives for his or her previous 14 years in energy
Labour chief Sir Keir Starmer, pictured arriving to vote this morning alongside his spouse Victoria, is projected by tonight’s exit ballot to win a landslide 170 majority
Rishi Sunak, who known as the election within the pouring rain exterior Downing Avenue on Could 22, is tipped to see his Conservative social gathering hunch from 365 to 131 seats
‘I believe it could have required Superman as chief of the Conservative Celebration to steer them again to some kind of victory and Mr Sunak shouldn’t be Superman, however I must say this: that is a rare achievement for Keir Starmer and his crew.
‘No person in 2019, no person would have imagined this was doable they usually and the crew and all of the individuals who’ve gained this marketing campaign deserve completely each piece of credit score that is coming their method.’
Ms Rayner later instructed Sky Information voters had been voters had been punishing the Conservatives for the final 14 years.
She described the exit ballot as encouraging however careworn the outcomes weren’t but in.
She added: ‘Keir has finished an incredible job in remodeling the Labour Celebration and placing ahead a programme for presidency that the nation can get behind.
‘After 14 years of the chaos and the scandals and the decline we’ve got seen below Tories, I believe they’re getting punished for that – that is fairly clear within the polls as effectively.’
Sir Keir gave his first assertion after the exit ballot was revealed with a submit on X, previously Twitter, during which he mentioned: ‘To everybody who has campaigned for Labour on this election, to everybody who voted for us and put their belief in our modified Labour Celebration – thanks.’
