UK Labour Party chief Keir Starmer has emerged victorious from his home seat in London as he inches closer to replace Rishi Sunak as the Prime Minister.
Mr Starmer vowed to serve every person in the constituency after winning from Holborn and St Pancras in the early morning results with 18,884 votes. His winning margin, however, was lower than that of previous elections.
Exit polls had projected a Labour sweep after Thursday's elections, drubbing the Sunak-led Conservatives. However, such projections often go wrong.
In his first remarks after the morning victory, Starmer thanked his voters and said it was a "huge privilege" to be re-elected from Holborn and St Pancras. "You have voted. It's now time for us to deliver," BBC quoted him as saying.
The heart of the UK's democracy beats not in Westminster or Whitehall, but in town halls, community centres and in the hands of people who hold the vote, he said. "Change begins in this community with the people who came together to make life better," the Labour leader added.
He said he would work for everyone in his constituency, irrespective of who voted for him. "I will speak out for you, have your back, fight your corner every single day," he said.
The people are ready for change and the change begins right here because this is your democracy, your community, your future, he told his voters.
Votes being counted for yesterday's elections have put the Labour Party at 133 seats as against the Conservatives' 19, showed data at 8:15 am.