On Wednesday, May 22nd, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the holding of a national election, designating July 4th as the voting date. Sunak’s Conservative Party, which he has led for 14 years, is currently facing a tough challenge from the opposition Labour Party.
The 44-year-old Sunak made the announcement of the election date outside his office on Downing Street earlier than some had anticipated. The Conservative Party is currently trailing in opinion polls.
Sunak stated, “Now is the moment for the UK to choose its future.” He highlighted achievements during his tenure in government, such as implementing the furlough scheme to assist businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We will hold the election on July 4th,” he said.
It was widely anticipated that the UK would hold an election this year, with most experts believing October or November were the most likely times.
Since taking office in 2010, the Conservative Party has navigated through economic austerity, Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, and a cost-of-living crisis.
Both parties have begun their election campaigns. Sunak and his government have criticized the Labour Party for potentially increasing taxes if in power and for lacking plans to safeguard the UK’s security in an increasingly dangerous international environment. The Labour Party denies these accusations.
The Labour Party has accused the Conservative Party under Sunak’s leadership of poor economic management over the past 14 years, worsening living conditions for people, causing government upheaval, and failing to provide the stable environment businesses desire for economic growth.
The Labour Party had already prepared thoroughly for the election before Sunak’s announcement. Labour leader Keir Starmer’s spokesperson told the media, “As soon as the Prime Minister announces the election, we are ready. We have a well-organized and well-functioning campaign ready, as we believe this country urgently needs an election.”
Starmer launched the Labour campaign last week, pledging to “rebuild Britain” and outlining the key steps a Labour government would take.
The Labour Party aims to emphasize the Conservative government’s struggles in tackling soaring prices, the NHS being overstretched, and scandals damaging the Conservative Party’s reputation among a large number of British voters.
While opinion polls show the Labour Party leading Sunak’s Conservative Party by around 20 percentage points, some Labour officials are concerned that the lead may not be as secure as it appears, with many voters still undecided.
A senior Labour insider suggested that Sunak’s goal might be to capitalize on this uncertainty while catching the Labour Party off guard, as they have not yet finalized the selection of all parliamentary candidates.
Sunak hopes that certain economic benefits, along with the initial flight arrangements to send illegal asylum seekers to Rwanda under the core immigration program, could increase the Conservative Party’s chances of victory. The earliest possible departure date for the flight is June 24th, just 10 days before the election.
Despite current opinion polls favoring the Labour Party over the Conservatives, recent electoral and referendum activities have shown instability, and the Conservatives openly maintain hope for success, indicating varying enthusiasm for the Labour Party’s proposals.
Voting will take place on Thursday, July 4th, across all 650 parliamentary constituencies in the UK, with vote counting to be conducted overnight, as both major parties strive to secure the 326 votes needed for a majority.
Once a party crosses this threshold, the new government will be formed immediately, awaiting symbolic approval from the British monarch.
Here are some key issues facing the UK election compiled by Reuters:
After more than two years of severe inflation affecting voters’ living standards, despite wage growth now surpassing price growth, the cost of living for voters in the upcoming UK election will be lower than in the last election in 2019.
Following a shallow recession in the second half of 2023, the economy saw growth at the beginning of 2024. However, weak investment, slow productivity growth, and labor shortages are pressuring prospects, with predictions indicating the economy will not rebound rapidly.
Slow growth and elevated public debt levels limit the scope for government spending increases, with inflation raising the costs of providing public services, putting pressure on government expenditure.
Higher interest rates mean the government is paying a heavy price to repay debts incurred to protect the economy from the COVID-19 pandemic and soaring energy prices in 2022.
Most UK voters value the publicly funded national healthcare system but believe the system currently cannot meet demands.
The UK spends approximately £180 billion ($228.5 billion) annually on public health, yet faces challenges in meeting the needs of an aging population and increasingly costly medical requirements.
Doctor and nurse strikes, coupled with long-term staff shortages in certain departments and a backlog from the COVID pandemic, mean millions are on long waiting lists for appointments.
Health issues are a significant factor preventing the working-age population from entering the labor market and are contributing to upward pressure on inflation.
Immigration has played a central role in UK politics for over a decade. An Ipsos survey in February showed that 37% of voters consider it a very important issue in deciding whom to vote for.
The influx of illegal immigrants drove the 2016 Brexit referendum and is the reason the government is currently preventing immigrants from crossing through small boats and attempting to send them to Rwanda upon arrival.
A study by the National Center for Social Research in March showed that 65% of people believe the government should take more action to deter illegal immigrants from reaching the UK. However, the same study indicated that more people think immigrants have a positive impact on society than those who believe they have a negative impact.
The UK has set a goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, with the government legally obligated to devise reliable plans to achieve this. However, as the goal nears, the actual costs of maintaining it, especially when passed on to consumers in the form of higher energy costs and other living expenses, have made some voters oppose the objective.
The Sunak government has relaxed some unpopular policies in response to these challenges.