In a nationwide election, millions of people in the UK will select the 650 MPs who will serve in Parliament for the ensuing five years. On Thursday, the polls will close at 10 p.m. (BST) after opening at 7 a.m. Hundreds of thousands of voters had already voted by mail before the start of in-person voting.
UK PM Rishi Sunak casts his vote in his Yorkshire constituency just half an hour after polls open in Britain’s #GeneralElection24 . pic.twitter.com/EX1bHFs4Ln
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) July 4, 2024
Current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his spouse both voted
At Kirby Sigston Village Hall in Kirby Sigston, England, during the general election, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his spouse Akshata Murty cast their ballots. After taking over as head of the Conservative Party in October 2022, Sunak attempted to stabilize the party that was in disarray. Over the last six weeks, he has been attempting to convince people all over the United Kingdom to extend the party’s tenure, which has lasted for 14 years.
Early elections were called by PM Rishi Sunak.
When he announced the election on May 22, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak shocked his own party. The poll was scheduled to take place as late as January 2025. The primary opposition, the left-of-center Labour Party led by Keir Starmer, is predicted to defeat Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives, who have ruled for 14 years under five different prime ministers.
What makes this election significant?
On Thursday, voters will cast their votes ending five turbulent years of governance that included the coronavirus pandemic, the rocky Brexit implementation, the “partygate” scandal involving rule-breaking by Johnson and some of his colleagues during pandemic lockdowns, and the disastrous six-week tenure of Prime Minister Liz Truss.
What is the British voting process?
England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales make up the United Kingdom, which is divided into 650 constituencies. Securing 326 seats is necessary for a party to gain an overall majority.
Which are the principal problems?
According to polls, the majority of voters are most concerned about the status of the British economy in the wake of a crisis in the cost of living and unprecedented inflation, which peaked at 11.1% in 2022 and has only lately started to recover to target levels. One of the main problems on the lists of many voters is immigration.
Who has the best chance of winning?
For almost 18 months, Labour has consistently held a double-digit advantage in the polls. During that period, the Conservatives have lost heartbreakingly in elections for local councils, mayors, and parliamentary special elections. Additionally, even though polls sometimes close throughout election season, it doesn’t seem like that has happened much this time. According to analysts, the Conservatives would need to pull off something almost miraculous to secure even a narrow majority.
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