LONDON (AP) — Millions of voters in Britain go to the polls on Thursday to elect a new House of Commons and a new government.
Voters elect 650 legislators representing an equal number of constituencies or local areas. The leader of the party that represents the most legislators becomes prime minister.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives are widely expected to lose to the main opposition centre-left Labour party after 14 years in power under five different prime ministers.
The Conservatives and Labour have traditionally dominated British politics under the UK’s ‘first past the post’ electoral system, which makes it difficult for smaller parties to gain representation in parliament.
But also the Liberal Democrats, Reform UK, the Scottish National Party and the Greens are participating, among others.
Below you can see which parties there are, who leads them and what they promise:
CONSERVATIVES
Who is their leader? Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Sunak, 44, came to power in October 2022, inheriting 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 colour and the first Hindu to become prime minister. Sunak has insisted he is the man who steered the ship back on course, but critics say he lacks political judgment and is out of touch with ordinary voters.
How many seats did they win in the last election? 365
What are they promising? A stronger economy and a tax cut of around £17bn a year. Increasing health spending above inflation and increasing defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2030. The party says this will be paid for by cutting tax evasion and slashing social spending. The party also promises to limit the number of immigrants and send some asylum seekers to Rwanda.
WORK
Who is their leader? Keir Starmer.
The 61-year-old barrister, a former chief prosecutor for England and Wales, is currently the favourite to become Britain’s next leader. Starmer, a centrist and pragmatist, has worked hard to steer his party away from the more overtly socialist policies of former leader Jeremy Corbyn and to quell internal divisions. Critics have called him dull and unambitious, but Labour has become hugely popular under his leadership.
How many seats did they win in the last election? 202
What do they promise? Promoting ‘wealth creation’, encouraging investment and improving Britain’s infrastructure, such as railways, under a 10-year infrastructure strategy. Setting up a state-owned clean energy company to boost energy security, paid for by a windfall tax on oil and gas giants. Taxing private schools to pay for thousands of new teachers in state schools. Cutting record-high public health waiting times.
LIBERAL DEMOCRATS
Who is their leader? Ed Davey.
Davey, 58, was first elected to parliament in 1997. The former economist served as the government’s energy and climate change secretary from 2012 to 2015 under an uneasy coalition of Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. Davey became leader of the left-wing Lib Dems in 2019 and had been a household name until this election, when he made headlines for a series of crazy stunts, including bungee jumping to urge voters to “take the plunge”.
How many seats did they win in the last election? 11
What do they promise? Improving Britain’s overstretched health and social care systems, including introducing free home care. Investing in renewable energy and insulating homes. Cracking down on sewage companies. Lowering the voting age to 16. Re-entering the European Union’s single market.
UK REFORM
Who is their leader? Nigel Farage.
Farage, a political firebrand who prides himself on disrupting British politics, has caused a serious problem for the Conservatives since announcing his intention to run in the general election. The 60-year-old populist has long divided opinion with his anti-immigrant rhetoric and Eurosceptic stance. A leading supporter of Brexit, Farage has won over disillusioned Conservative voters with his promises to curb immigration and focus on “British values.” Farage has previously run in general elections seven times, but has never won.
How many seats did they win at the last election? None — although the party gained its first legislature this year when former Conservative Party vice-chairman Lee Anderson defected to Reform.
What are they promising? Freeze all “non-essential immigration” and ban international students from bringing their families. Leave the European Convention on Human Rights so asylum seekers can be deported without going to the rights courts. Scrap “net zero” targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and thus lower energy bills.
SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY (SNP)
Who is their leader? John Swinney.
Swinney, 60, became the SNP’s third leader in just over a year in May. The politician has sought to bring stability to the party, which has been in turmoil since Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon abruptly resigned last year amid a campaign finance investigation that eventually led to criminal charges against her husband. Swinney is a long-serving member of the party, having joined at the age of 15 and previously led it from 2000 to 2004.
How many seats did they win in the last election? 48
What are they promising? Swinney has said that if his party wins a majority of seats in Scotland, he will seek to open Scottish independence negotiations with the London-based British government. He wants to rejoin the European Union and the European single market. He has also called for increased funding for public health, the scrapping of the UK’s Scottish-based nuclear deterrent and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
GREEN PARTY
Who is their leader? Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay.
Denyer, a mechanical engineer, worked in wind energy before joining the Greens in 2011. The 38-year-old was a local politician for the southwestern English city of Bristol for nine years. In 2021, she was elected co-leader of the Greens alongside Ramsay, another local government politician with experience working with environmental groups.
How many seats did they win in the last election? 1
What are they promising? Phasing out nuclear power and getting the UK to net zero by 2040. The Greens have pledged £24 billion a year to insulate homes and £40 billion a year to invest in the green economy, paid for by a carbon tax, a new wealth tax on the very richest and an income tax increase for millions of higher earners.
Sylvia Hui, The Associated Press
