Keir Starmer, from lawyer to PM-designate

Starmer's predicted victory

Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, is all but certain to become the next prime minister of Britain after an exit poll projected that his party would win a majority of seats in the House of Commons.

Background

Starmer, a former lawyer, has been a Member of Parliament (MP) since 2015 and was elected leader of the Labour Party in 2020. He has been a vocal critic of the government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and has pledged to create a fairer society if elected.

Reaction to the poll

Starmer has welcomed the poll results but has urged caution until the official results are announced. He said that he was "humbled" by the support that the Labour Party has received and that he would work to build a "better future" for Britain.

Next steps

The official results of the election are expected to be announced later today. If the Labour Party does win a majority of seats in the House of Commons, Starmer will be invited by the Queen to form a government. He will then become the first Labour prime minister since Gordon Brown in 2010.