UK goes to polls with Labour leading

Polls point to a landslide victory for the opposition Labour Party, which is expected to return to power after nearly a decade and a half of Conservative rule. The United Kingdom will go to the polls this Thursday (04/07) in a general election that is widely expected to return the opposition Labour Party to power and end nearly a decade and a half of Conservative rule.

The country’s first nationwide vote since Boris Johnson won a landslide victory for the Conservatives in 2019 comes after British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s surprise request to hold it six months earlier than necessary.

His gamble now looks set to fail spectacularly, with polls during the six weeks of the campaign – and over the past two years – pointing to a major defeat for his party.

This will almost certainly put Labour leader Keir Starmer, 61, in charge of Downing Street as leader of the largest party in Parliament.

“The future of the United Kingdom is at the polls”

The centre-left Labour Party is expected to win its first general election since 2005 in historic proportions, with several polls in the run-up to the election predicting its biggest ever victory.

But Starmer took nothing for granted as he urged voters not to stay at home. “The future of the UK is at the ballot box,” he said. “But change will only happen if you vote.”

Voting began at 7am local time at more than 40,000 polling stations across the country, from churches, community centres and schools to more unusual venues such as pubs and even a ship.

Sunak was among those who voted early in his constituency of Northallerton, in North Yorkshire, northern England. He arrived with his wife, Akshata Murty, and walked hand in hand into the town hall, surrounded by rolling fields.

Voting will continue until 10pm

Voting will end at 10 p.m. (local time, 6 p.m. in Brasilia). Afterwards, broadcasters announce exit polls, which usually provide an accurate picture of the performance of the major parties.

Results from the UK’s 650 constituencies will be published overnight, with the winning party expected to secure 326 seats – the threshold for a parliamentary majority – by dawn on Friday.

Polls suggest voters will punish the Conservatives after 14 years of often chaotic rule and could remove a number of cabinet ministers, with speculation that even Sunak himself may not be safe.

This would make him the first sitting British prime minister not to retain his role in a general election.

“I know people are frustrated with our party,” he admitted Wednesday. “But tomorrow’s vote … is a vote about the future.”

md (AFP, AP)

Source: Terra

Rose

Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.