Night to remember

Starmer's joy as win gives country chance to walk into 'sunlight of hope.. but Labour suffers losses too

- JOHN STEVENS and ASHLEY COWBURN

AS THE exit poll was announced, his destiny as Prime Minister now clear, Keir Starmer turned and hugged his wife Vic.

The Labour leader had gathered family and close aides at a friend's house in Central London to watch the moment of truth on TV.

Just like the rest of the nation waiting at 10pm, Mr Starmer did not know what was coming until the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg said: "The exit poll is predicting a Labour landslide."

As his aides cheered and whooped, Mr Starmer punched the air joyfully.

"It was an emotional moment," said one person who was in the room. Then attention turned to the North East, where constituencies vie to be the first to declare. Houghton & Sunderland South won just 73 minutes after the exit poll dropped, with the news of Bridget Phillipson's re-election.

Ms Phillipson, appointed Education Secretary yesterday, said: "The British people have chosen change."

The result was the first of a series of joyous moments for Labour. The party also overturned massive Conservative majorities across the country.