UK General Elections 2024: All you need to know

The United Kingdom is ready for a significant general election on Thursday, July 4.

This election, called unexpectedly by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, has seen a tumultuous campaign period filled with political scandals and strategic gaffes.

Ahead of the polling day, experts and polls suggest that the Labour Party may dethrone the Conservatives after a 14-year tenure.

Meanwhile, the right-wing populist Reform UK is emerging as a formidable opposition contender. Here is a comprehensive guide to the upcoming election.

Timing, constituencies, and polling process

The 2024 UK general election will take place on Thursday, July 4, with polling stations open from 7 am (06:00 GMT) to 10 pm (21:00 GMT).

Registered voters across 650 parliamentary constituencies will cast their ballots to elect Members of Parliament (MPs) using the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system. In this system, the candidate with the most votes in each constituency wins, irrespective of whether they secure a majority of votes.

This contrasts with proportional representation (PR) systems used in many other European countries, where parliamentary seats are allocated based on the percentage of votes each party receives.

Once the polls close, the votes will be counted, with results expected in the early hours of July 5.

If a single party wins a majority of the 650 seats, their leader will become the new Prime Minister. In the event of a hung parliament, where no party achieves a majority, the largest party may attempt to form a coalition government.

The main contenders for Prime Minister are Rishi Sunak of the Conservative Party and Keir Starmer of the Labour Party. Current polling suggests Labour is on course for a comfortable majority, but final results may differ.

Why did Rishi Sunak call for elections on July 4?

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's decision to call a snap general election for July 4, 2024, has puzzled many political analysts. The next election was not required until December 2024, making the early call unexpected. Several potential reasons for this decision include:

Leveraging economic positives: Sunak may be aiming to capitalize on recent positive economic developments, such as lower inflation and a return to economic growth, to maximize the Conservatives' electoral chances before potential tougher economic times ahead.

Avoiding further challenges: By calling an early election, Sunak may have sought to avoid further bad news that could harm the Conservatives' chances, such as increasing mortgage payments and the ongoing migrant crisis.

Threat from Reform UK: The early election might also be a strategic move to limit the impact of Nigel Farage's right-wing Reform UK, which has been siphoning votes from the Conservatives.

Internal party dynamics: The snap election call could be an attempt to pause internal conflicts within the Conservative Party and stem the flow of defections from Tory MPs.

Sunak's personal stakes: For Sunak, the election is personally significant as a poor performance could lead to calls for his removal as party leader.

Key parties, candidates, and issues

The main political parties contesting the election are the Conservative Party, Labour Party, Liberal Democrats, Scottish National Party (SNP), Plaid Cymru, Green Party, and Reform UK.

Key candidates include Rishi Sunak (Conservative), Keir Starmer (Labour), Ed Davey (Liberal Democrats), Nicola Sturgeon (SNP), and Adam Price (Plaid Cymru). This election is a critical test for these leaders and their parties.

The election is taking place against the backdrop of significant economic and social challenges. Major issues include:

• High cost of living: Driven by high inflation and slow economic growth, many Britons are feeling financially worse off.
• Failing public services: The NHS is struggling with long waiting lists and staff shortages, raising concerns about public service efficiency.
• Rising immigration: Immigration continues to be a contentious issue, with debates about control and its impact on services and social cohesion.
• Housing shortages: High property prices and rents have made housing affordability a critical concern, particularly for younger voters.
• The winner will face the daunting tasks of tackling inflation, reducing the deficit, and improving public services. This will also be the first general election since Brexit in 2020 and the first under the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022, which introduced new rules for calling elections.

Why are the Conservatives performing so badly in the polls?

The Conservative Party is facing significant electoral challenges ahead of the July 4th general election. Several factors have contributed to their poor performance in the polls:

"Partygate" scandal: Government officials were found to have violated lockdown restrictions, severely damaging public trust in the Conservative government.
Economic policies of the Truss government: The disruptive economic policies of the short-lived Liz Truss government in 2022 further eroded confidence in the party's competence.

Desire for change: After 14 years in power, many voters are seeking a change in government. The Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer, is seen as a potentially more stable alternative.

Despite some positive economic indicators, such as lower inflation and unemployment, the Conservatives have failed to deliver on key promises, particularly in areas like the NHS and immigration control.

This perceived lack of progress has contributed to public dissatisfaction with the party.

The 2024 general election will also be the first to take place under new constituency boundaries, which could further disadvantage the Conservatives.

Polling and projections

According to the latest polls, Labour is the clear favorite to win a majority in the 2024 UK general election. The Conservatives are facing record lows in the polls, putting them in a difficult "arithmetical reality" as their voters are concentrated in constituencies they are trying to defend.

The rise of Reform UK will further challenge the Conservatives in those areas.

Voter engagement does not appear to be as strong in this election cycle compared to 2019, and there is evidence of voter disillusionment with the two main parties, Labour and the Conservatives.

Politics professor Tonge predicts an "apathetic landslide" for Labour, which could result in a slightly lower turnout than the last election.

Based on current forecasts, Tonge suggests that getting more than 100 seats would be a good result for the Conservatives, a huge drop from their 365 seats won in 2019.

Such a result would provoke an "ideological and political debate for the heart and soul of the British political right," leaving the Conservatives with a choice of either going down the "Farage route" of tougher policies on immigration and tax cuts, or trying to rebuild as a center-right party without any association with Reform UK.

The 2024 UK general election is set to be a significant event in the nation's political landscape, with major implications for its future direction. While current polls suggest a comfortable majority for Labour, the final results remain uncertain.

As the country prepares to vote, the key issues of the economy, public services, immigration, and housing affordability will be at the forefront of voters' minds.

The outcome will determine the next steps for the UK, both domestically and on the global stage.