Gloating Labour figures quick to celebrate over expected election landslide victory

Wes Streeting broke down and Andy Burnham clasped his hands together in prayer before celebrating like a football fan as the exit poll predicted a stunning majority of 170 for Sir Keir Starmer’s party.

Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock described the party’s predicted landslide as “the greatest comeback since Lazarus”.

Lord Kinnock told ITV News: “A gain of 208, according to the exit poll, which were driven directly to Keir Starmer and what he's achieved in four years, two of which of course, were during the lockdown. It’s the biggest comeback since Lazarus.

“I must say I'm just ecstatic about the fact that an entirely dependable, fully grown-up guy, Keir Starmer, and his wife, are going to go through that door tomorrow. I have unalloyed and unreserved delight.”

And Peter Mandelson, the architect of New Labour under Tony Blair, said the predicted landslide is a “miracle” and that he was “gobsmacked”.

“It's an extraordinary result and needless to say, I am an extremely happy boy,” he told Times Radio.

He added that an “electoral meteor” had “struck planet Earth” and it would have required a “superman” to save the Tories and Rishi Sunak “is not superman”.

Mr Streeting, who is expected to be the country's new Health Secretary, “welled up” as the news sank in.

The shadow health secretary told BBC News: “Of course I’m delighted by the exit poll. I’ve seen many exit polls over the years.

“They don’t tend to look like these ones, and if we have won this General Election, that is historic for the Labour Party, but even more importantly, is an opportunity for the country, for us to rebuild our economy and our public services and rebuild trust in politics.”

And Greater Manchester mayor Mr Burnham, a former Health Secretary himself, punched their air before eventually exclaiming: “It's brilliant.” live on Sky News.

Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner was more cautious when interviewed on BBC News about the poll figures, saying she was “not counting her chickens”.

Sir Keir's projected majority would be just short of Sir Tony Blair's 179 in 1997, while Rishi Sunak's Conservatives are expected to win just 131 seats - 234 down from their general election victory under Boris Johnson five years ago.

As polls closed at 10pm, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: “To everyone who has campaigned for Labour in this election, to everyone who voted for us and put their trust in our changed Labour Party – thank you.”

Deputy leader Angela Rayner told Sky News she thought the Conservatives were being “punished” for the past 14 years, but stressed the results were not in yet.

The party stands to make gains across the Midlands and North, winning back seats in the “red wall” that it lost in 2019 and making deep incursions into traditional, Tory-held territory following a final-week blitz of more rural seats by Sir Keir Starmer.

It is also on course to make significant advances in Scotland, with exit polls suggesting the SNP have been reduced to just 10 seats.

Bellwether seats such as Worcester, Northampton North and Loughborough are all expected to go to Labour, according to the exit poll.

But things may not all go Labour’s way.

A close-fought battle in Islington North could see former leader Jeremy Corbyn, now an independent candidate, retain the seat, while shadow cabinet member Thangam Debbonaire could be at risk from the Greens in Bristol Central.

The exit poll suggested Bristol Central had a 99% chance of turning Green, while Islington North was too close to call.

Reform UK was also projected to pick up both Barnsley seats and Hartlepool from the party.

Early indications of the exit poll’s accuracy began rolling in shortly after 11pm on Thursday night, with shadow education secretary holding on to Houghton and Sunderland South, doubling her majority and increasing her vote share while the Conservatives slumped to third place behind Reform UK.

Ms Phillipson said in her victory speech: “Tonight the British people have spoken, and if the exit poll this evening is again a guide to results across our country as it so often is, then after 14 years the British people have chosen change.

“They have chosen Labour and they have chosen the leadership of Keir Starmer. Today our country with its proud history has chosen a brighter future.