In the closing hours of a high-stakes election campaign, Britain’s political leaders made a last-ditch effort for votes late Wednesday, with polls suggesting a potential return of a Labour government after 14 years of Conservative rule, a result which will be a major upset for Rishi Sunak.
Multiple surveys forecast that Labour could surpass the record 418 seats it achieved in 1997, when former leader Tony Blair ended 18 years of Conservative dominance.
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The UK employs a first-past-the-post electoral system, where voters choose representatives in 650 constituencies. The party that secures a majority, at least 326 seats, will form the government, and its leader will become the prime minister. If no party wins a majority, the current prime minister has the first chance to form a coalition government.
Key political parties in this election include the Conservative Party, led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak; the Labour Party, headed by Keir Starmer; the Liberal Democrats, under Ed Davey; Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage; the Scottish National Party (SNP), with John Swinney at the helm; and the Green Party, co-led by Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay.
Also Read: Reform UK supporter calls Rishi Sunak ‘Paki’, British Prime Minister says ‘it hurts’
What latest polls say
According to a BBC report, there is a small but noticeable narrowing in the polls as the election campaign reaches its conclusion. Recent polls indicate a slight gain in support for the Conservatives, while Labour’s lead has diminished slightly.
Comparing current polls with those from the campaign’s start, both parties have seen a drop in their average ratings, though Labour’s decrease has been more pronounced. Despite this, Labour still maintains a substantial average lead of about 18 points.
Reform UK holds third place, but their mid-campaign surge has plateaued in the final two weeks. The Liberal Democrats have improved their standing compared to the beginning of the campaign, while the Greens, SNP, and Plaid Cymru have remained relatively stable.
