As Keir Starmer, a former human rights lawyer and prosecutor, is set to become Britain’s new prime minister after winning a landslide election on Thursday, the European Union has congratulated him.
His emergence marks the ending of 14 years of Conservative Party rule, with the perception that it is moving toward a new government dominated by the centre-left.
The European Union on Friday congratulated , with the Council President Charles Michel calling it “historic’.
“I look forward to working with you and your government in this new cycle for the UK,” Michel said on X, formerly Twitter.
“The EU and Britain are crucial partners, cooperating in all areas of mutual interest for our citizens,” he said.
He added that he would see Starmer at a European Political Community summit to be held in Britain on July 18 “where we will discuss common challenges, including stability, security, energy and migration
Vote counting is underway in the United Kingdom’s snap general election with 650 seats in the House of Commons – the lower house of Britain’s parliament – up for grabs.
Results show Labour has passed the magic number of 326 seats for a House of Commons majority just before 5 a.m. on Friday, July 5, confirming a change of government that was predicted for months but is still a remarkable turnaround for Starmer’s party in a single electoral cycle.
Based on the official exit poll, Labour is on course to win 410 of the 650 seats in Parliament, the most since Tony Blair’s 1997 landslide victory.
