Voters across the UK are heading to the polls in a general election that could see Labour forming its first government in 14 years.
Polling stations in 650 constituencies across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland opened at 7am on Thursday. Counting will begin immediately afterward, with results expected in the early hours of Friday morning.
Labour leader Keir Starmer encouraged voters to embrace change, posting on X, “Change. Today, you can vote for it.” Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, in a series of posts, urged voters to “stop the Labour supermajority.”
The Liberal Democrats tweeted about the chance for significant change, while the SNP highlighted their goals of independence, rejoining the EU, scrapping the two-child benefit cap, investing in the just transition, and protecting free tuition.
This election concludes six weeks of campaigning by Sunak and Starmer and comes after a period of nearly five years with three Conservative prime ministers. It is the first July election since 1945, following Sunak’s surprise call for a summer poll six weeks ago.
Labour’s campaign promises include creating a publicly owned energy company, nationalizing the railways, cutting net migration, recruiting 6,500 teachers, and creating over 100,000 new nursery places. The Conservatives have pledged to introduce compulsory national service for 18-year-olds, cap migrant visas annually, recruit 8,000 police officers, and cut national insurance by a further 2p, aiming to abolish it.
Senior Tories, including Sunak’s close cabinet allies, were conceding defeat on Wednesday. Starmer accused the Conservatives of trying to suppress voter turnout by framing the election result as a foregone conclusion. Labour has maintained a 20-point lead in opinion polls throughout the campaign and aims to make significant gains across the UK. A YouGov poll on Wednesday night suggested Labour could achieve its largest majority in modern history.
This election marks a stark turnaround from the December 2019 election, where Boris Johnson’s Conservatives won an 80-seat majority with a campaign centered on “getting Brexit done.” Johnson’s term was marred by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Partygate scandal, and handling internal misconduct allegations, leading to his resignation in July 2022. Liz Truss succeeded him but resigned after 45 days due to a disastrous mini-budget. Sunak took over but has not managed to improve the Conservatives’ standing.
Starmer, Labour leader since April 2020, has transformed the party significantly, suspending former leader Jeremy Corbyn, who is now running as an independent candidate in Islington North.
Smaller parties, including the Liberal Democrats, Greens, and Reform UK, are expected to perform well. Ed Davey’s Liberal Democrats have campaigned for free personal care in England, timely GP access, and a ban on sewage discharges into rivers and seas. The Greens are targeting disaffected leftwing voters with policies like a wealth tax on assets over £10m and nationalizing railways, water companies, and major energy firms. Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, aims to freeze immigration except for essential skills and end net-zero policies, with Farage likely to win a seat in Clacton-on-Sea.
A total of 650 MPs will be elected using the first-past-the-post system. A party must secure at least 326 seats for an overall majority.
All British citizens aged 18 or over, as well as Commonwealth and Irish citizens resident in the UK, are eligible to vote. Voters must have registered in advance and present valid voter ID at polling stations.