UK Conservative Party faces devastating blow in recent general election
(MENAFN) The United Kingdom Conservative Party faced a devastating blow in the recent general election, as a significant number of prominent figures, including 11 cabinet ministers, suffered defeat in what has been described as the party's worst electoral performance to date. The election, which saw Britons casting their votes for 650 members of the House of Commons, culminated in a landslide victory for the Labour Party, overshadowing the Conservatives' presence in parliament.
Among the high-profile casualties were former Prime Minister Liz Truss, Defense Secretary Grant Shapps, and Commons leader Penny Mordaunt, all losing their seats amid a wave of support for Labour candidates. As the final votes were tallied, the Conservatives managed to retain a mere 121 seats, while Labour surged ahead with a commanding 412, securing a resounding majority in parliament. The Liberal Democrats followed in third place with 71 seats, trailed by the Scottish National Party with nine, and both the Eurosceptic Reform United Kingdom and the Greens each claiming four constituencies.
In his concession speech, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak acknowledged the stark reality of the election outcome, stating, "The British people have delivered a sobering verdict tonight. There is much to learn and reflect on, and I take responsibility for the loss." Former Conservative Party chairman Sir Brandon Lewis placed blame on Sunak for presiding over what he termed as the party's worst electoral performance in over a century.
Internal strife within the Conservative Party intensified in the aftermath of the electoral rout. Jacob Rees-Mogg, a former Brexit minister who also lost his seat, suggested a potential alignment of the party's agenda with that of Nigel Farage's Reform United Kingdom, known for its Eurosceptic and anti-immigration stance. As the party grapples with the fallout from this historic defeat, discussions on reshaping its political strategy and leadership are expected to dominate the post-election discourse.
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