Britain’s first general election in five years is shaping up to be a battle for the soul of the country and one that some see as a threat to the very existence of the ruling Conservative Party, which has been in power since 2010.
The centre-right Conservative Party came to power at the height of the global financial crisis and has won two further elections since then, but those years have been fraught with challenges and controversy, making the party, as it is commonly known, a prime target for critics on both the left and the right.
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The left-leaning Labor Party faces the challenge of shaking off a reputation for irresponsible spending and demonstrating it has a plan to govern.
Both parties are being torn apart by the conflict in the Middle East, with the Conservatives facing accusations of Islamophobia and Labour struggling to distance itself from the rampant anti-Semitism that was rampant under former leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Here we look at the upcoming election and the biggest issues at stake in it.
When is the next UK election?
Chancellor Rishi Sunak set the election date for 4 July, several months earlier than expected. The chancellor had to call the election by December, but it could take place as soon as 28 January 2025.
British Chancellor Rishi Sunak addresses the media at Downing Street in London on March 1, 2024. Sunak announced on Wednesday that a general election will be held on July 4.
How long are political terms in the UK?
In Britain, elections must be held within five years, but the timing of the vote is decided by the prime minister’s calculation of the most favorable date for the ruling party. Sunak had been expected to call the vote in the autumn, when several economic factors are expected to increase the ruling party’s chances of victory, according to the Institute for Government, a London-based think tank.
But favorable economic news on Wednesday that inflation had fallen to 2.3% changed that.
How does voting work?
The British people elect all 650 members of the House of Commons to serve a maximum term of five years. The party that wins the majority in the House of Commons, either alone or in a coalition, forms the next government, and its leader becomes Prime Minister.
The outcome of the election will therefore determine the political direction of the government that has been led by the centre-right Conservative Party for the past 14 years, with the centre-left Labour Party widely seen as in the strongest position.
Who is running?
Mr Sunak, a former chancellor of the exchequer who has been chancellor since October 2022, will lead his own party into the election. His main opponent will be Keir Starmer, a former director of public prosecutions in England who has been leader of the Labour Party since April 2020.
But if neither party wins a majority, other parties – some of which have strong regional support – could be crucial to forming a coalition government.
The Scottish National Party, the Liberal Democrats and the Democratic Unionist Party, which supports Scottish independence and maintains Northern Ireland’s relationship with the UK, are currently the three largest parties in Parliament after the Conservatives and Labour. Many observers have pointed out that the New Reform Party, formed by Conservative rebels, could siphon votes from the Conservatives.
How long have the Conservatives been in power and what has happened in that time?
The Conservative party has been in power for 14 years, implementing years of austerity measures after the financial crisis, overseeing Britain’s departure from the European Union and struggling to contain the deadliest coronavirus outbreak in Western Europe. More recently, the country has been divided over how to deal with migrants and asylum seekers crossing the English Channel and struggling with a cost-of-living crisis.
All the while, there have been a string of ethics breaches by lockdown-breaking ministers and government agencies. The scandal saw former prime minister Boris Johnson found to have lied to MPs and ultimately forced him out of office and eventually out of Parliament. His successor, Liz Truss, only lasted 45 days in office after her economic policies led to the economy collapsing.
What are the key issues?
Economy: The UK is suffering from high inflation and slowing economic growth, which combined have left most of the population feeling poorer. Although the Conservative government achieved its target of halving inflation, which peaked at 11.1% in October 2022, the economy is technically in recession in the last six months of 2023, raising questions about the government’s economic policies.
Migration: Thousands of asylum seekers and economic migrants have crossed the English Channel in flimsy rubber boats in recent years, raising concerns that the UK government is losing control of the border. The Conservatives’ signature anti-boat policy is a plan to forcibly return some of these migrants to Rwanda. Critics say the plan violates international law, is inhumane and will do nothing to stop people fleeing war, unrest and famine.
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Healthcare: Britain’s National Health Service provides free health care to everyone, but it is plagued by long waiting lists for everything from dental care to cancer treatment. The newspapers are filled with stories of seriously ill patients waiting hours for an ambulance, and even longer to get a hospital bed.
Environment: Chancellor Sunak has backed away from a series of environmental pledges, extended the deadline for the end of petrol and diesel car sales and approved new oil drilling in the North Sea – critics say these are the wrong policies at a time when the world is trying to combat climate change.
