Labour’s landslide election victory in the UK, which ended 14 years of Conservative rule, drew congratulations from leaders around the world and reminded Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the complex global challenges he must navigate as prime minister.
Israel‘s President Isaac Herzog said he looked forward to working with the new British government as the war in Gaza continues.
“As I prepare to enter Downing Street as prime minister, I look forward to working with him and his new government to bring the hostages home, build a better future for our region, and deepen our close friendship,” he said.
Herzog also expressed his deep gratitude to outgoing Chancellor Rishi Sunak “for his leadership and especially for standing with the Israeli people in this most difficult hour.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy congratulated Starmer and said his country and Britain would remain “trusted allies through all challenges”, adding: “We will continue to defend and promote our shared values of life, liberty and a rules-based international order”.
Zelensky also thanked Sunak for helping Ukraine defend itself against Russia.
Prime Minister Kaya Kallas Estonia The prospective EU diplomat sent a message stressing the importance of “common security”, alluding to the growing uncertainty caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Congratulations @KeirStarmer on your historic election victory,” Kallas wrote to X. “Estonia and the UK are the strongest allies and closest friends. The UK’s commitment to our common security is highly valued by all Estonians.”
of European Council President Charles Michel congratulated Mr Starmer on his victory, which comes just over eight years since Britain voted to leave the EU.
“The EU and the UK are important partners working together in all areas of common interest to our two peoples,” Michel wrote on X. “I look forward to working with you and the British government in this new cycle for the UK.” Michel said shared challenges ahead include stability, security, energy and migration.
President Ursula von der Leyen said: European CommissionHe said he looked forward to building a “constructive partnership” with Mr Starmer to tackle common challenges and strengthen European security.
President Emmanuel Macron will face his own day of reckoning on Sunday. France Heading to vote in the second round of early parliamentary elections in which his political future rests, Johnson said he and Starmer would “continue the work we started with the UK on bilateral cooperation, European peace and security, climate and AI”.
GermanyFinance Minister Olaf Scholz welcomed Labor’s landslide victory and the prospect of working with the new chancellor.
“I know Keir Starmer personally, I have met and spoken to him on a number of occasions. I am very capable and I will be a very successful prime minister, I am convinced of that,” Scholz told reporters in Berlin.
of Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris stressed the importance of the relationship with our neighbour and said the time had come for a “great reset”. He added: “I want to send a message from Dublin to London this morning that I match Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s commitment and enthusiasm for the peace process and its future potential in many areas.”
Narendra Modi, who was elected for a third term last month, IndiaThe Prime Minister offered Starmer his “wholesome congratulations and best wishes”. CanadaBritish Prime Minister Justin Trudeau congratulated the new prime minister on his “historic victory” and urged him to do his job well.
“Much work lies ahead to build a more progressive and equitable future for people on both sides of the Atlantic,” he said. “So let’s get started, my friends.”
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of Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: “I congratulate my friend and the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on your overwhelming election victory and I look forward to working constructively with the new Government.”
new zealandNew Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he looked forward to “working together at every opportunity as prime minister” and thanked Sunak for his “service to the country and friendship to New Zealand”.
The election of a centre-left leader is a step backwards from recent European elections, in which the far right made significant gains.
Last month’s European elections saw populist parties make big gains in countries including Italy, France, Austria, Hungary and Germany, while in Germany Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats suffered their worst performance in a national election.
President Macron called early elections after his centrist coalition suffered a major defeat in the opinion polls. Marine Le Pen’s National Rally won the most votes in the first round of parliamentary elections and is now the largest party in Parliament, potentially forming France’s first far-right government.
Thursday’s UK election also comes four months before Americans go to the polls to choose between Joe Biden and Donald Trump.
Starmer’s victory made many international headlines on Friday morning. The New York Times gave a blunt assessment: “Labour wins UK general election in a landslide victory,” but noted both the “remarkable turnaround” of Starmer’s party and the fact that Nigel Farage, a “Donald Trump ally and driving force behind Brexit,” won a seat.
GermanyBritain’s Die Welt newspaper gave a brief summary saying “The Conservatives suffer a ‘carnage’, Labour scores a clear victory and ‘Mr Brexit’ returns”, while France’s Le Monde said Labour’s “historic victory” was evidence of a “deep restructuring of the British political landscape”.
in SpainIn the UK, where the far-right Vox is the third largest party in Parliament, La Vanguardia reported on the success of Farage’s Reform UK party, saying, “Labour wins by a landslide as the far-right makes remarkable gains in Britain.”
And Spanish online newspaper El Diario began Friday’s podcast with a blunt assessment of the state of the UK and Starmer’s Conservative predecessors: “A country where nothing works as it used to, a historic powerhouse now riddled with cracks, a society victim of its own decisions, has voted for change after 14 years of Conservative rule, and for a progressive leader from a humble background without eccentricities.”