What happens next after Labour won the election? A simple guide

Labour has won the 2024 general election. So what happens next?

Here’s your quick guide to the comings and goings in the transition of power from Conservative to Labour.

Who is prime minister now?

Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, is the prime minister after Labour won the 2024 general election. In his first speech at Downing Street he said he wanted to form "a government of service".

Rishi Sunak remained prime minister until speaking to King Charles at Buckingham Palace and resigning on Friday morning. Sir Keir then visited the palace shortly afterwards to speak with the King about forming the next government.

This is a formality, born out of a tradition respecting the Crown and King Charles’s role as head of state.

How did Rishi Sunak step down?

Rishi Sunak addressed the nation for the final time outside Number 10, before heading to meet the King and step down as PM.

“I have given this job my all but you have sent a clear signal that the government of the United Kingdom must change,” he said, wishing Sir Keir luck as the new prime minister.

He also confirmed he would resign as Conservative leader, though only when arrangements were in place to choose his successor.

When does Parliament resume?

Members of Parliament will return to Westminster on Tuesday 9 July to elect a Speaker, who manages debates in the Commons and maintains order when exchanges get a heated.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle was named Speaker in November 2019 and unanimously re-elected after the 2019 general election. Most of the main parties did not compete against his re-election as an MP, so he is likely to be elected as Speaker again.

MPs need to be sworn in before they can do anything

All members of Parliament have to swear an oath of allegiance to the Crown before they can speak in debates, vote, take their seat, or get a salary.

The Speaker is sworn in first, then all other MPs, whether it is their first time in Parliament or not. This is likely to happen on Wednesday 10 July and Thursday 11 July.

Then there will be a State Opening of Parliament

The State Opening of Parliament is scheduled for Wednesday 17 July. King Charles will give a speech which sets out the new Labour government’s plans.

The speech is written by the government but delivered by the King. MPs will debate the contents of the speech in the following days, before voting on it.

When does Parliament break for summer?

Before Rishi Sunak called the election, summer recess was due to start on 23 July.

But this is only a week after the State Opening of Parliament, so it is possible Sir Keir will delay the period when MPs take holiday. They normally return at the start of September.

Who will be in the Labour Cabinet?

Sir Keir Starmer said before the election that he wanted to “hit the ground running” so it would be a surprise if he changed his top team at the last minute.

The big jobs include:

Prime Minister: Keir Starmer

Deputy Prime Minister: Angela Rayner

Chancellor: Rachel Reeves

Home Secretary: Yvette Cooper

Foreign Secretary: David Lammy

Health Secretary: Wes Streeting

Education Secretary: Bridget Phillipson

Energy Secretary: Ed Miliband

What happens when MPs lose their seats?

Losing your job is a big change for anyone, and an MP is no different. They have just five days to leave their office in Westminster before their security pass is deactivated and their staff are made redundant too.

Given how short notice the change can be, they are all entitled to winding up payments. But after that they’ll be refreshing their CV and hunting for a new job.