Britons elect a new parliament - change of power imminent
In over 40,000 polling stations across the country, in churches, community centers, and schools, voters were able to cast their ballots. Some had to seek out unconventional locations such as pubs or even a ship. Starmer voted in the morning in North London. The incumbent conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also went to the polls early.
Polling stations closed at 10:00 PM (local time, 11:00 PM MESZ). Media then began announcing the results of exit polls, which usually provide a fairly accurate picture of how the parties have fared. Overnight, the results of the 650 British constituencies began to come in.
"I've just returned from Australia and I have the feeling that everything in this country has gone wrong and many people are unhappy," said the 32-year-old author Ianthe Jacob after casting her vote in Hackney, East London. "I don't trust any of the candidates," said the 22-year-old student Judith in St. Albans north of London. "But I will vote. Many of my friends feel the same way," she emphasized.
In the latest survey by the polling institutes YouGov, Focaldata, and More in Common, a historic victory for Labour was predicted. According to this, the party could win at least 430 of the total 650 seats in the London Parliament and even surpass the landslide victory of 1997 under the then party leader Tony Blair. The Conservatives plummeted in the survey to a record low of fewer than 127 seats.
In the survey of the three institutes, the Liberals and the right-wing populist Reform UK party of Nigel Farage also gained seats in Parliament. Farage himself could potentially enter Parliament as an MP in his eighth attempt.
After years marked by Brexit, Corona, economic crisis, and countless scandals, it seems that voters are looking for a change. In the 14 years of Tory rule, the British people experienced a total of five conservative prime ministers - in 2022, there were three within four months.
The British parliamentary election had an impact on the London Stock Exchange on Thursday. The Pound fell in comparison to the Dollar, but according to analyst Joshua Mahony's assessment, the results should not cause excessive market volatility. An expected landslide victory for the Labour Party was optimistically viewed by the markets, he said.
The Conservatives had primarily waged a negative campaign, warning of tax increases under a Labour government and announcing a tougher stance on issues such as migration and security. Labour leader Starmer, on the other hand, campaigned for a return to seriousness in British politics, promised long-term economic growth, and presented himself above all as a servant of the country. "Country first, then politics," he emphasized repeatedly.
If the predictions hold true and the Conservatives lose power after more than a decade in office, Sunak will resign as Prime Minister on Friday and submit his resignation to King Charles III. Shortly thereafter, the Monarch will invite Starmer to take over as Prime Minister and lead the next British government. Starmer's next stop will then be the Prime Minister's office in Downing Street Number 10, where he will give his first speech and appoint his ministers.
For the 61-year-old Starmer, who began his political career only nine years ago and worked as a lawyer before that, that would be remarkable. On the other hand, Sunak would be the first serving British Prime Minister not to be re-elected in a Parliamentary election.
The polling stations in Great Britain, including some unconventional ones like pubs and even a ship, saw a high turnout of voters. Despite expressing dissatisfaction with all candidates, Judith in St. Albans mentioned voting due to her friends' feelings. The predicted historic victory for Labour could see Keir Starmer become the British Prime Minister, marking a change of power after 14 years of Tory rule. If the predictions hold true, Nigel Farage could potentially enter Parliament as an MP in his eighth attempt, thanks to the support of Liberals and his own Reform UK party. In East London, a 32-year-old author expressed concerns about the state of the country and lack of trust in candidates.
