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