A new dawn is rising on Britain that will see the Labour Party return to power after 14 years in a landslide election victory. For the UK's Conservatives who will now sit among the opposition, the 2024 election results were only the last push to the ditch that started with Brexit and progressed through misgoverning, scandal and infights.

The soon-to-be former prime minister Rishi Sunak, in a manner of speaking, became the last one in line holding the baby handed over to him by previous prime ministers from his party.

And it was indeed a revolving door of prime ministers. Between 2010 and 2024, there were five: David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak.

Cameron set the ball rolling for the downfall of Tories with the Brexit referendum in 2016. While he himself was confident that Britons would vote in favour of staying within the European Union, the party itself fought against him, led by so-called 'Brexiteers' like Boris Johnson. 

Once the referendum favoured Brexit, Cameron had no other option but to quit, which led to Theresa May taking charge.

The national mood was in favour of Brexit, and even a sense of national pride spread in the nation, as much of the population, the rural folk and working class in particular, thought Britain's exit from EU would lead to an exodus of European workers and businesses out of UK, which will benefit local labour, businesses and industry. 

Despite all these, an overconfident May called a snap poll in 2017, with the intention of increasing the Conservative majority accruing from the 'success' of Brexit. That was not to be. The Conservatives did win, but they lost five seats from the previous tally. 

During the years running up to the 2017 election and after that, Boris Johnson emerged as a more robust advocate for British conservatism and protectionism. With a mix of populist right-wing rhetoric and insider politics, Boris managed to oust May in an inner-party coup, mainly arising from her inability to pass the Brexit legislation in parliament. He led the Tories to victory in yet another snap election in 2019, with one of the biggest majorities for the party.

As Boris was affirming his grip on power, Covid pandemic hit, making UK one of the greatest sufferers.

It was followed by the so-called 'partygate' scandal, which exposed how Prime Minister Boris Johnson and others were flouting Covid norms they had set for common folk, by holding parties in official premises. 

Infightings, backstabbing and no-trust motions followed, with Liz Truss replacing Boris, only to become the shortest-serving PM of UK, defeated by opposition within the party to her budget and economic reform plans. 

In place of Truss came Rishi Sunak, the first Asian and Indian-origin prime minister of Britain.

Throughout his career, Sunak was fighting the twin flames of cost of living crisis in the UK, and the no-holds-barred squabbles and clamour for Tory leadership. His erstwhile allies, notably Suella Braverman who became UK home secretary, left the cabinet over issues ranging from immigration reform to British economy.

Added to these were Sunak's image as a rich PM out of touch with the nation and its problems, particularly exacerbated by the wealth of his wife Akshata Murty, the daughter of Indian tech titan Narayana Murty.

In a way, Sunak's troubles are now over, and Britain has got a more decisive verdict in the form of the return of Labour for the first time since 2010.

But the damage has been done for Tories. So many top party leaders, at least 11 of them cabinet members, have lost the election.

They include Penny Mordaunt, the leader of the House of Commons, Grant Shapps and Jacob Rees-Mogg.

While he himself won the  Richmond and Northallerton constituency, Sunak conceded defeat for his party.

He said there is much to learn from the "sobering verdict", adding, "I take responsibility for the loss."

Suella Braverman, meanwhile, won her seat of Fareham and Waterlooville.

Boris Johnson, who stayed away during much of campaigning, returned in the last days to the podium, only to 'dance on Sunak's grave' as one report put it.