Live

General Election LIVE: Leader of the Lib Dems Sir Ed Davey tells voters to 'take the plunge' as he bungee jumps

1 July 2024, 07:01 | Updated: 1 July 2024, 13:34

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey bungee jumps as he visits Eastbourne Borough Football Club in East Sussex, on the General Election campaign trail.
Lib Dem leader Ed Davey bungee jumps as he visits Eastbourne Borough Football Club in East Sussex, on the General Election campaign trail. Picture: Alamy

By Josef Al Shemary

Sir Ed urged voters to do something they've never done before and vote Liberal Democrat as he took a 'leap of faith' and bungee jumped on the campaign trail in Eastbourne, East Sussex.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Welcome to LBC's General Election live blog.

Key Highlights

  • Labour wins General Election in a landslide as Conservatives see worst defeat in history.
  • Rishi Sunak conceded the election around 4:40am as cabinet casualties built up through the night.
  • Sir Keir formally appointed Prime Minister at Buckingham Palace before making his first speech at Downing Street. 
  • Labour leader pledges to put 'country first, party second'. 
  • Outgoing Prime Minister apologises to nation in final speech outside Downing Street. 
  • Former Prime Minister Liz Truss loses to Labour in Norfolk South West.
  • Eleven Conservative ministers lost their seats including Penny Mordaunt, Alex Chalk, Grant Shapps, and Gillian Keegan.
  • Gains for Reform as Nigel Farage wins in Clacton and Reform UK's Richard Tice, Lee Anderson, and Rupert Lowe also pick up seats.
  • Sir Keir announces his new cabinet, with Angela Rayner, Rachel Reeves and David Lammy among those appointed to the PM's top team. 

Starmer speaks to President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen

The Prime Minister wished Ms Von der Leyen well in her upcoming parliamentary election and she congratulated him on his election victory, a Downing Street spokeswoman said. 

 "The leaders discussed areas of close co-operation between the UK and the EU, including support for Ukraine, climate change and regional security.

"The Prime Minister and president emphasised the importance of the unique relationship between the UK and EU in addressing these challenges. 

 "They agreed to stay in close contact and looked forward to meeting in person soon."

Starmer and Irish premier Simon Harris commit to reset and strengthen relations "with urgency and ambition"

The Taoiseach "warmly congratulated" Sir Keir on his appointment and said he looked forward to having a "close and constructive" working relationship. 

Mr Harris also accepted an invite to visit Sir Keir at Downing Street on July 17. 

 "The Taoiseach and the Prime Minister spoke of their shared determination to reset and strengthen the bilateral relationship between Ireland and the United Kingdom and to set about that task with urgency and ambition. 

 "They discussed Northern Ireland, welcoming the restoration of the Institutions, including the full operation of North South and East West Good Friday Agreement institutions, as well as legacy issues."

Education Sec Bridget Phillipson vows to break down barriers to give children better opportunities

Ms Phillipson said: "Opportunity should be for all - not just a lucky few. That's why education is at the heart of the change this new government will make and will be at the forefront of national life. 

 "Education is key to improving children's life chances. Lives are shaped by opportunity but too many people of all ages, in too many parts of this great country, simply don't have the opportunities to succeed - this Government will make sure they do. 

 "We'll break down those barriers to opportunity through supporting children to get the best start in life, high and rising school standards for all and skills training to support growth, so that everyone can achieve and thrive. 

 "Government can't do this alone. From day one we will reset the relationship between government, families and our education workforce; our dedicated teachers and school staff, early years staff, university and college professionals and social workers. 

"Education will be at the heart of our national story, and it's our workforces who are at the heart of education."

Starmer speaks to first ministers of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Starmer reaffirms 'unwavering support for Ukraine' in call with Zelenskyy

The Ukrainian president tweeted: "I was pleased to speak with Keir Starmer on the day of his appointment as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. 

"I congratulated Sir Keir Starmer on his election victory and wished him success in fulfilling the British people's expectations of the new government. 

"I am grateful to Prime Minister Starmer for reaffirming the UK's principled and unwavering support for Ukraine. 

"We coordinated positions ahead of the NATO Summit in Washington and other international events, as well as discussed ways to strengthen our partnership, including the preparation of an unprecedented 100-year partnership agreement between Ukraine and the UK."

James Timpson appointed Prisons Minister

James Timpson OBE of Timpson shoe repairs will also be made a peer as well as Minister of State for Prisons, Parole and Probation in the Ministry of Justice. 

 He has advocated for employing former prisoners.

Sir Patrick Vallance appointed Science Minister

Sir Patrick Vallance, who was chief scientific adviser to the government during the Covid-19 pandemic, has been appointed a Minister of State for science in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. He will also be made a peer. 

 Sir Patrick has backed Labour's flagship manifesto pledge to set up a publicly owned energy firm. 

More Cabinet appointments

Sir Keir Starmer has appointed Sir Alan Campbell as chief whip and Darren Jones as Chief Secretary to the Treasury. 

Barrister Richard Hermer KC will become Attorney General rather than Emily Thornberry, who was shadow attorney general when Labour was in opposition. 

 They will all attend Cabinet and Mr Hermer will become a lifetime peer, Downing Street said.

President Biden congratulates Keir Starmer

US President Joe Biden has congratulated Sir Keir Starmer on his appointment to PM.

He tweeted: "Congratulations to Prime Minister Keir Starmer on becoming Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. 

"I look forward to our shared work in support of freedom and democracy around the world, and to further strengthening the special relationship between our two countries."

Baroness Smith appointed Lord Privy Seal and Leader of House of Lords

Baroness Smith of Basildon has been appointed Lord Privy Seal, and Leader of the House of Lords.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Breaking
Queen Camilla is unwell with a chest infection and has withdrawn from her engagements this week

The Queen withdraws from engagements this week after being taken ill, Buckingham Palace announces

Tesco customers are furious after being forced to wait hours to book a Christmas delivery slot.

'It's like getting Beyonce tickets': Fury as Tesco shoppers face 'ridiculous' online queues for Christmas delivery slots

Ladbaby has broken its silence on historic allegations of gripping.

Charity chart-topper Ladbaby breaks his silence on 'groping' allegations

Labour MP Chris Webb 'attacked and mugged' near London flat by phone snatching gang

Labour MP Chris Webb 'attacked and mugged' near London flat by phone snatching gang

The White House has been barricaded and restaurants and stores boarded up as tensions rise over the election.

Washington DC braces for unrest as White House is barricaded and stores boarded up ahead of US election

Sir Chris Hoy said 'if you're over the age of 45, go and ask your doctor' for screening

Sir Chris Hoy calls for men to be offered prostate cancer screening from the age of 45 after his terminal diagnosis

Kamala Harris went door-knocking in Pennsylvania on the night before the election

Kamala Harris surprises residents in Pennsylvania as she goes door-knocking in final bid to win votes

Nearly 600 police officers sacked in a year amid as shocking figures reveal extent of misconduct crackdown

Nearly 600 police officers sacked in a year as shocking figures reveal extent of misconduct crackdown

Hundreds of people died in the devastating flooding in Spain

British man who survived Valencia floods describes hearing his neighbours’ horrifying final screams before they died

Amy Dowden said she was ‘heartbroken' as she left this year's Strictly Come Dancing

Amy Dowden says her ‘heart is breaking’ after she confirmed she will not return to Strictly

Anthony Scaramucci said the row between Trump and Labour would blow over

'Anglophile' Trump's row with Starmer will have 'no impact' on wider relations with UK, Anthony Scaramucci says

Nick Ferrari attends his first Trump rally in Pennsylvania as he meets the crowd in 'the poorest city in the United States'

Nick Ferrari attends his first Trump rally in Pennsylvania as he meets the crowd in 'the poorest city in the US'

Exclusive
Nick Ferrari bumps into Nigel Farage in Pennsylvania as he reflects on Trump's "remarkable" foreign policy achievements

Nick Ferrari bumps into Nigel Farage in Pennsylvania as he reflects on Trump's 'near-death' experience

Live
Americans are heading to the polls in their millions today

US Presidential Election 2024 LIVE: Millions of Americans head to the polls in the final race for the White House

Proud Boys claim they will go to voting places as Trump repeats election fraud lies.

Proud Boys making plans to mobilise as Trump repeats election fraud lies

File photo of a real NHS dentist

Desperate Brits fall for scam 'fake NHS dentists' amid years-long waits for appointments