On Thursday, the British general election officially kicked off, following a month and a half of intense campaigning by various parties. The results are expected to be announced in the early hours of Friday local time.
Voting took place from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. at 40,000 polling stations nationwide. Multiple polls consistently indicate that the Labour Party is likely to win the election.
Several British polls show that the Labour Party led by Keir Starmer has maintained around 40% support, significantly ahead of the Conservative Party led by Rishi Sunak with approximately 20% support, potentially securing a “Super Majority” of votes.
The Reform UK party led by Nigel Farage is placed third in some polls and second in others. Farage’s main goal is for the Reform UK party to become the largest opposition party.
Renowned British pollster Professor Matt Goodwin mentioned in an interview with GB News that there is a 6% to 10% of undecided voters. He also pointed out the challenge for the Reform UK party due to the dispersed locations of its voters in the “first past the post” electoral system of the UK.
Goodwin stated that pollsters in the UK are faced with the potential of seeing “either the greatest victory for the Labour Party in British history or the greatest failure of the polling industry.”
According to the polls, the issues of greatest concern to British voters are rising living costs, heavy pressure on public services like healthcare, and a sharp increase in immigration.
Henry Smith, a university student in the UK, expressed his hope for the new government to reduce living costs. He emphasized the need for any party that comes into power to fulfill their campaign promises and gain the trust and confidence of the voters. He also stressed the importance of the UK standing up for justice internationally while protecting local industries such as agriculture and livestock.
Mr. Mthu Nmo, working in the IT industry, emphasized the necessity for the new government to prioritize the safety of the British people by reducing crime rates, particularly the harm caused by drugs in society. He also highlighted the urgent need to address the current immigration issues, especially concerning vessels arriving from the English Channel, requiring clear and effective measures.
The UK’s population is growing at its fastest pace since the 1960s. The current Prime Minister’s plan is to send illegal immigrants to Rwanda. The Labour Party has stated that if they come into power, they will abandon the Rwanda plan and instead focus on combating immigrant criminal syndicates. The Reform UK party proposes withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights and enforcing the repatriation of illegal immigrants.
A Chinese British voter in the service industry, Mr. Wang, hopes the new government will stabilize the economy, support small businesses, and be transparent in policy decisions, such as spending during the COVID-19 pandemic and in green energy initiatives.
He also mentioned the deteriorating UK-China relations, expressing his wish for the British government to distinguish between the Chinese government and British Chinese citizens. Chinese individuals are one of the lowest crime rate demographics in the UK, contributing positively to society. He highlighted the treatment of Russian individuals in the UK following the Russia-Ukraine conflict, expressing a desire to avoid similar treatment towards Chinese individuals.