The United Kingdom heads to the polls on Thursday to choose a new House of Commons and a new government. Rishi Sunak is the UK Conservative Party’s fifth prime minister in eight years.
Voters on Thursday will elect 650 lawmakers representing various constituencies, or local areas. The leader of the party that returns the most lawmakers will become prime minister.
Various polls suggest that Sunak’s Conservatives are expected to lose to the main opposition party, the left-of-center Labour. According to Reuters, opinion polls have consistently given Keir Starmer-led Labour a 20-point lead. However, Sunak has dismissed opinion polls that place the Labour Party well ahead of the ruling Conservatives.
Here are the key factors in the UK polls.
Key candidates
Sunak (44) came to power in October 2022 when he inherited a Conservative Party and an economy in turmoil after Liz Truss's short-lived premiership. The Oxford graduate and former Goldman Sachs hedge fund manager is Britain's first leader of coulor and the first Hindu to become prime minister. Sunak faces Keir Starmer, a 61-year-old lawyer who is a former chief prosecutor for England and Wales. Other parties, such as the Scottish National Party, the Liberal Democrats, and the Democratic Unionist Party, could play crucial roles in forming a coalition government if no party wins an outright majority.
Conservatives’ worry
Since assuming power in 2010, the Conservatives have faced relentless challenges. Reeling under the effects of the global financial crisis, they imposed years of austerity to balance the budget. This was followed by leading the country through Brexit, managing the Covid-19 outbreaks in Western Europe, and grappling with soaring inflation after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Many blame the Conservatives for the numerous issues plaguing Britain, from sewage spills and unreliable train services to the cost-of-living crisis, crime, and the influx of migrants crossing the English Channel. The party’s reputation has also been damaged by numerous scandals, including lockdown-busting parties that led to former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s resignation.
Key issues plaguing Britain
Britain has struggled with high inflation and slow economic growth. The Conservatives succeeded in controlling inflation, which slowed to 2% in the year through May after peaking at 11.1% in October 2022, but growth remains sluggish.
Meanwhile, thousands of asylum seekers and economic migrants have crossed the English Channel. This has led to the criticism that the government has lost control of Britain’s borders. Also, Britain's National Health Service, which provides free healthcare to everyone, is plagued with long waiting lists. Newspapers are filled with stories about seriously ill patients forced to wait hours for an ambulance, then longer still for a hospital bed. Sunak has been criticised for backtracking on environmental commitments, including delaying the end of petrol- and diesel-powered vehicle sales.
Can Indians vote in the UK election?
Indian citizens living in the UK can vote. This voting right also extends to citizens of all Commonwealth countries, including India, as well as Ireland, who reside in the UK. Around 100 desis are contesting the UK general elections. In 2019, 63 British Indians had contested with 15 making it to the House of Commons. Many of these candidates have made successful lives for themselves in Britain with bankers, lawyers and doctors prominent among those standing, according to a report by Times of India.
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