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Politics

U.K. Labour Party sweeps to power

 Historic election win, defeating Conservatives

Labour leader Keir Starmer will officially become prime minister later today

The Associated Press ·
A man in a suit and red tie stands at a podium, smiling.
Keir Starmer, leader of Britain’s Labour party speaks at a reception to celebrate his win in the general election, at Tate Modern, in London on Friday. (Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters)

Britain’s Labour Party swept to power Friday after more than a decade in opposition, official results showed, as a jaded electorate appeared to hand the party a landslide victory, but also a mammoth task of reinvigorating a stagnant economy and dispirited nation.

Labour leader Keir Starmer will officially become prime minister later in the day, leading his party back to government less than five years after it suffered its worst defeat in almost a century.

In the brutal choreography of British politics, he will take charge in 10 Downing St. hours after the votes are counted — as Conservative leader Rishi Sunak is hustled out.

“A mandate like this comes with a great responsibility,” Starmer acknowledged in a speech to supporters, saying that the fight to regain people’s trust “is the battle that defines our age.”

Speaking as dawn broke in London, he said Labour would offer “the sunlight of hope, pale at first but getting stronger though the day.”

Sunak conceded defeat, saying the voters had delivered a “sobering verdict.”

Quick News

Government unions threaten strike action

Strike action could be looming for more than 2,000 workers with the New Brunswick government.

The union represents labourers and tradespeople in eight different government departments.

“We’ve been in bargaining talks with GNB since November 2022 and we’ve moved quite a bit from our original demands, but the province has not reciprocated,” Guimond told reporters on Wednesday, noting they have been without a contract since December 2022.

According to CUPE, the province’s most recent offer included a wage increase of $3.25 per hour for someone earning the median wage of $25.44.

The union’s last official offer was an increase of $7.25 per hour plus other benefits for someone earning the median wage.

Guimond said they presented the employer a one-time offer of $6 per hour plus other benefits to avoid a work stoppage, but the employer rejected it.

“We felt this deal was a fair offer for both parties and we feel that it would address the retention and recruitment and give the members of 1190 the opportunity to have a real living wage,” he said.

Officials said a strike could have an impact on road and bridge repairs, ferries, and provincial parks around the province.

A strike vote will be held soon, and Guimond said workers could be on the picket lines as early as late July.