Sir Keir Starmer is set to become the UK’s first Labour prime minister since 2010 after his party’s landslide general election victory.
Labour is returning to power with a huge parliamentary majority of 174, following a collapse in support for the Conservatives.
Sir Keir will be formally appointed by the King at Buckingham Palace later, replacing Tory leader Rishi Sunak, and make his first speech in Downing Street.
Speaking outside No 10, Mr Sunak vowed to remain his party’s leader until formal arrangements for selecting his successor are in place.
In a short speech, he apologised to unsuccessful Tory candidates and told the public: “I have heard your anger, your disappointment.”
Sir Keir is expected to begin appointing his new cabinet on Friday afternoon, before it meets for the first time on Saturday.
Labour’s victory has come largely as a result in a dramatic 20 point drop in Tory support, with the party down 250 seats to 121, a historic low.
