Britons on Thursday voted in ongoing parliamentary election widely expected to bring Keir Starmer‘s Labour Party to power, potentially ending Prime Minister Rishi Sunak‘s Conservatives administration after 14 years.
Opinion polls indicated a significant victory for Starmer, reflecting a public desire for change driven by internal strife within the Conservative Party, which has seen five prime ministers in eight years.This shift could place Starmer, a 61-year-old former human rights lawyer, in office with a substantial agenda but without overwhelming support or financial resources to address it.
“Today, Britain can begin a new chapter,” Starmer told voters in a statement. “We cannot afford five more years under the Conservatives. But change will only happen if you vote Labour.”
The country’s 40,000 polling stations opened at 0600 GMT. Sunak, 44, cast his vote early with his wife, Akshata Murty, in Richmond, northern England, his parliamentary constituency. Starmer voted with his wife around 0830 GMT in his north London constituency.
Having called the election months earlier than expected, Sunak recently shifted his campaign focus. He moved from advocating for a fifth consecutive Conservative victory to warning about the risks of an unchecked Labour majority in parliament.
Sunak urged voters on election day, highlighting potential risks under a Labour government, including higher taxes, economic setbacks, and increased vulnerability amid global tensions—claims Labour denies.
“They will do lasting damage to our country and our economy – just like they did the last time they were in power,” Sunak said. “Don’t let that happen.”
Voting concluded at 10 p.m. (2100 GMT), with an exit poll providing the first indication of the results. Detailed official outcomes were expected by early Friday.
If the opinion polls are accurate, Britain will join other European nations in penalizing their governments following a cost of living crisis triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Unlike France, Britain appears set to shift to the center-left rather than further right.
Labour has maintained a poll lead of 15 to 20 points since Sunak replaced Liz Truss in October 2022. Truss resigned after 44 days in office, following a bond market meltdown and a collapse in sterling. Pollsters predict Labour may secure one of the largest election victories in British history, potentially surpassing majorities achieved by Tony Blair or Margaret Thatcher. However, a high number of undecided voters and potentially low turnout may impact the outcome.
Such a result would have been unimaginable during the 2019 election when Boris Johnson achieved a significant Conservative victory. Predictions then suggested the Conservatives would govern for at least a decade, with Labour seemingly in ruins.
Starmer, the former chief prosecutor of England and Wales, took over Labour from veteran socialist Jeremy Corbyn after its most significant defeat in 84 years in 2019. He has since moved the party back to the center.
Meanwhile, the Conservatives have faced internal turmoil, scandal under Johnson, rancor following the Brexit vote, and an inability to meet the demands of their 2019 voter base. Johnson’s tenure damaged the party’s integrity, and Truss’s leadership eroded its economic credibility, leaving Sunak to stabilize the situation. Although inflation returned to target levels from a 41-year high of 11.1% and some Brexit tensions were resolved, polling numbers did not improve.
Sunak’s campaign faced several setbacks, including his announcement of the election in driving rain, early departure from a D-Day event angering veterans, and allegations of election gambling among aides, reigniting scandal discussions. Additionally, Nigel Farage’s unexpected leadership of right-wing Reform UK has reduced Conservative votes, while the centrist Liberal Democrats are forecasted to perform well in affluent southern England.
Starmer may also benefit from a Labour resurgence in Scotland following a funding scandal within the Scottish National Party. However, he could face significant challenges in office.
His campaign focused on a singular promise of “Change,” appealing to public dissatisfaction with stretched public services and declining living standards. Despite this, his ability to effect change is limited, with tax burden levels at their highest since 1949 and national debt nearing annual economic output levels.
Starmer has repeatedly cautioned that improvements will not be immediate and has sought international investors to help address these challenges.
Sunak maintains that his 20 months in office have set the economy on an upward trajectory, arguing that Labour should not be allowed to jeopardize this progress.
“They will do lasting damage to our country and our economy – just like they did the last time they were in power,” Sunak said. “Don’t let that happen.”
Voting ended at 10 pm (2100 GMT), with an exit poll providing the first indication of the results, and detailed official outcomes were expected by early Friday.
Opinion polls indicated a significant victory for Starmer, reflecting a public desire for change driven by internal strife within the Conservative Party, which has seen five prime ministers in eight years.This shift could place Starmer, a 61-year-old former human rights lawyer, in office with a substantial agenda but without overwhelming support or financial resources to address it.
“Today, Britain can begin a new chapter,” Starmer told voters in a statement. “We cannot afford five more years under the Conservatives. But change will only happen if you vote Labour.”
The country’s 40,000 polling stations opened at 0600 GMT. Sunak, 44, cast his vote early with his wife, Akshata Murty, in Richmond, northern England, his parliamentary constituency. Starmer voted with his wife around 0830 GMT in his north London constituency.
Having called the election months earlier than expected, Sunak recently shifted his campaign focus. He moved from advocating for a fifth consecutive Conservative victory to warning about the risks of an unchecked Labour majority in parliament.
Sunak urged voters on election day, highlighting potential risks under a Labour government, including higher taxes, economic setbacks, and increased vulnerability amid global tensions—claims Labour denies.
“They will do lasting damage to our country and our economy – just like they did the last time they were in power,” Sunak said. “Don’t let that happen.”
Voting concluded at 10 p.m. (2100 GMT), with an exit poll providing the first indication of the results. Detailed official outcomes were expected by early Friday.
If the opinion polls are accurate, Britain will join other European nations in penalizing their governments following a cost of living crisis triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Unlike France, Britain appears set to shift to the center-left rather than further right.
Labour has maintained a poll lead of 15 to 20 points since Sunak replaced Liz Truss in October 2022. Truss resigned after 44 days in office, following a bond market meltdown and a collapse in sterling. Pollsters predict Labour may secure one of the largest election victories in British history, potentially surpassing majorities achieved by Tony Blair or Margaret Thatcher. However, a high number of undecided voters and potentially low turnout may impact the outcome.
Such a result would have been unimaginable during the 2019 election when Boris Johnson achieved a significant Conservative victory. Predictions then suggested the Conservatives would govern for at least a decade, with Labour seemingly in ruins.
Starmer, the former chief prosecutor of England and Wales, took over Labour from veteran socialist Jeremy Corbyn after its most significant defeat in 84 years in 2019. He has since moved the party back to the center.
Meanwhile, the Conservatives have faced internal turmoil, scandal under Johnson, rancor following the Brexit vote, and an inability to meet the demands of their 2019 voter base. Johnson’s tenure damaged the party’s integrity, and Truss’s leadership eroded its economic credibility, leaving Sunak to stabilize the situation. Although inflation returned to target levels from a 41-year high of 11.1% and some Brexit tensions were resolved, polling numbers did not improve.
Sunak’s campaign faced several setbacks, including his announcement of the election in driving rain, early departure from a D-Day event angering veterans, and allegations of election gambling among aides, reigniting scandal discussions. Additionally, Nigel Farage’s unexpected leadership of right-wing Reform UK has reduced Conservative votes, while the centrist Liberal Democrats are forecasted to perform well in affluent southern England.
Starmer may also benefit from a Labour resurgence in Scotland following a funding scandal within the Scottish National Party. However, he could face significant challenges in office.
His campaign focused on a singular promise of “Change,” appealing to public dissatisfaction with stretched public services and declining living standards. Despite this, his ability to effect change is limited, with tax burden levels at their highest since 1949 and national debt nearing annual economic output levels.
Starmer has repeatedly cautioned that improvements will not be immediate and has sought international investors to help address these challenges.
Sunak maintains that his 20 months in office have set the economy on an upward trajectory, arguing that Labour should not be allowed to jeopardize this progress.
“They will do lasting damage to our country and our economy – just like they did the last time they were in power,” Sunak said. “Don’t let that happen.”
Voting ended at 10 pm (2100 GMT), with an exit poll providing the first indication of the results, and detailed official outcomes were expected by early Friday.