Change of government imminent - Parliamentary election in Great Britain: Prime Minister Sunak threatens to quit
United Kingdom is facing a historic election. According to the polls, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the Conservative Party are at risk of a heavy defeat. Keir Starmer from the Labour Party could become the new prime minister - all surveys indicate this. This would end 14 years of conservative rule. Polling stations open at 8.00 AM and close at 11.00 PM (both Central European Summer Time).
Calculations show that Labour could secure the largest majority for a party since 1832. Accordingly, the Social Democrats would get 431 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons. Previously, it was 202. The Conservatives would suffer a significant loss, with 102 seats. "What we are seeing has never happened in British political history,"
Starmer campaigned for a change. Britain cannot afford five more years of conservative rule, the 61-year-old announced.
The Liberal Democrats are also expected to make headway, according to some calculations, even surpassing the Conservatives as the largest opposition faction. The right-wing Reform UK Party of Nigel Farage, who once drove the Brexit forward, could make its first entry into the House of Commons. Experts predict that the former Brexit Party will cost the Conservatives many votes on the right flank.
Over 46 million people are eligible to vote, each having one vote. All seats in the House of Commons are given through direct mandates. The candidate with the most votes in one of the 650 constituencies always wins. The absolute majority in the House of Commons is 326 seats.
Conservatives focus on damage control
Works Minister Mel Stride acknowledged on the right-wing broadcaster GB News that Labour was steering towards a landslide victory, "as this country has never experienced before." In the imminent defeat for the Tories, several current government members could lose their seats. Even Premier Sunak is reportedly in danger of losing his seat, according to the "Guardian" newspaper. Sunak's constituency in the North of England is traditionally considered a safe seat for the Conservatives. It would be the first time in history for a sitting prime minister to lose his seat in the House of Commons. In this case, Sunak would not retain the party leadership.
However, even if the incumbent prime minister manages to get re-elected, the party would need to rebuild. With the moderate cabinet member Penny Mordaunt and the hardliners Kemi Badenoch, the Economics Minister, and Suella Braverman, formerly the Home Minister, several candidates are warming up. Braverman emphasized in a guest article for the "Telegraph" newspaper: "The era of complacency is over, and we must prepare ourselves for the reality and frustration of opposition."
Sunak shows determination. If only 130,000 wavering voters in around 100 marginal constituencies gave their votes to the Conservatives, the Tory result would look different, he said.
However, Sunak's statements rather suggested damage control. Labour should not be allowed to gain a "supermajority," warned Sunak. In the British political system, however, it does not matter whether a party has a 10 or 200-seat lead in Parliament.
Media support Labour leader Starmer
Meanwhile, many media outlets have spoken out in favour of Labour. The tabloid newspaper "Sun," which primarily holds conservative views, recently stated that Starmer should be given a chance.
Reasons for the Decline of the Conservatives are numerous. The party underestimated the consequences of Brexit and failed to resolve the economic problems that arose from it. Numerous scandals and affairs, particularly under the former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, also destroyed a great deal of trust. Trust was further eroded by the chaotic economic plans of interim Prime Minister Liz Truss. Mortgage rates for buying real estate rose significantly and continue to burden many people.
Five Prime Ministers in eight years
Personal stability has been lacking for years. Sunak, in office since October 2022, is already the fifth Prime Minister since the Brexit Referendum in 2016. There were even more changes on various cabinet posts.
The polls close at 10:00 PM (MESZ) and a prediction is expected. The individual constituencies will still be counted until Friday morning. King Charles III. will officially commission the new Prime Minister with government formation on Friday.
"Sun" Op-Ed Contribution by Braverman in "Telegraph" YouGov Announcement "Guardian" Report Statements YouGov Expert English
- Despite the Conservative Party and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak being at risk of a heavy defeat in the upcoming election in Great Britain, Keir Starmer from the Labour Party could potentially secure the largest majority for a party since 1832.
- With the Conservatives expected to suffer a significant loss, the Liberal Democrats are also predicted to make headway, and the right-wing Reform UK Party of Nigel Farage could make its first entry into the House of Commons.
- Mel Stride, a Works Minister in the Conservative Party, acknowledged on GB News that Labour was steering towards a landslide victory, putting several current government members, including Prime Minister Sunak, at risk of losing their seats.
- Suella Braverman, formerly the Home Minister, emphasized in a guest article for the "Telegraph" newspaper that the era of complacency is over and that the Conservative Party must prepare itself for the reality and frustration of opposition if Sunak manages to get re-elected.
- Many media outlets, including the tabloid newspaper "Sun," which primarily holds conservative views, have spoken out in favor of Labour leader Starmer, suggesting that he should be given a chance.
- Reasons for the decline of the Conservatives are numerous, including underestimating the consequences of Brexit, failing to resolve economic problems that arose, and numerous scandals and affairs under former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and interim Prime Minister Liz Truss.
- The election in Great Britain will make history, with the potential for a change in government and marking the fifth Prime Minister since the Brexit Referendum in 2016.
