Reform UK is loudly claiming the system is "broken", while even during the campaign some Conservative commentators raised questions about how governments can wield great power on a comparatively weak mandate.
Who was the biggest winner?
Labour scored about 35 per cent of the popular vote modest by historic standards - but harvested 63 per cent of seats in the House of Commons, and thus also a landslide 174-seat majority. Given the low turnout of 60 per cent, it means only about one in five adult Britons actively voted for Keir Starmer's programme of change. Starmer will be governing the country with just about the lowest share of the vote of any administration since 1923.
Of course, in the British system the point is that Labour's lead over the Conservatives was still very substantial, at 11 per cent, and the two-party swing comparable to Tony Blair's in 1997, and of historic proportions. This is a strength of the system: it forces a choice. (Though both Labour's lead and its vote share were smaller than the polls had indicated.)
How did Labour do it?
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Hull discovers the highs and lows of Test matches
England 325, Sri Lanka 211-5, visitors are 114 runs behind
Ron Yeats, Anfield legend and 'colossus', dies at 86
Ron Yeats, the defensive “colossus” who captained Liverpool when they emerged as an English football powerhouse in the 1960s, has died at the age of 86.
Winning start for Carsley as Rice and Grealish deliver
After all the focus on the soundtrack, Lee Carsley’s first game as England manager was certainly loaded with narrative.
Thousands take to streets over Barnier appointment
French left says move by Emmanuel Macron a 'power grab'
Calls for probe into killing of US-Turkish volunteer
Israeli forces shot dead Aysenur Ezgi Eygi in West Bank
Iran has supplied ballistic missiles to Russia, says US
The United States has informed allies that it believes Iran has transferred short-range ballistic missiles to Russia for its war in Ukraine.
Poking the bear: Ukraine's attack on Russia could sink
The daring invasion of Kursk began as an unlikely triumph but keeping a firm grip on occupied land is much tougher
The headless body murder haunting police 50 years on
In 1974, the body of an unidentified woman was found on farmland in Norfolk. Despite efforts to solve the case, the killer was never found. Barney Davis hears the theories
National Trust may go half vegan for net zero boost
The National Trust is considering making half of its cafe food vegan as part of a commitment to achieving net zero emissions.
McKellen took knighthood through lack of 'principle'
Sir Ian McKellen has explained why he accepted a knighthood after considering turning down the offer.
