The 2024 British general election took place on Thursday, marking the United Kingdom’s first general election since 2019. The exit poll projected a decisive win for the Labour Party, with 410 seats compared to the Conservative Party’s 131 seats. This outcome signaled a significant shift in power, potentially ousting incumbent Prime Minister Rishi Sunak after 14 years in office. His chief rival, Labour Party leader Keir Starmer, was poised to take over as the new Prime Minister.
In the U.K.’s parliamentary system, voters do not directly elect a new leader. Instead, they choose local representatives for the House of Commons. With 650 parliamentary seats up for grabs, each occupied by one Member of Parliament (MP), a party needs at least 326 seats to secure an outright majority and form the next government. The first-past-the-post system in the U.K. allows voters to select one candidate per constituency, with the candidate receiving the most votes winning the seat, regardless of the percentage of votes received.
The dissolution of Parliament on May 30 marked the start of the election process, leading to the general election on July 4. The Conservative Party, under Sunak’s leadership, previously held an outright majority of 345 seats, giving them significant policymaking power. However, the exit poll results indicated a potential shift in dominance towards the Labour Party.
As voters headed to the polls, the anticipated victory for Labour was supported by polling data showing a significant lead over the Conservatives. Starmer’s leadership of the Labour Party since 2020, following a major defeat in the general election, aimed to make the party more electable. His efforts to move Labour back towards the center of British politics seemed to resonate with voters, leading to a projected landslide victory.
The election timeline saw voting commencing on Thursday morning, with most constituency results expected by early Friday morning. An exit poll jointly released by British broadcasters Sky News, ITV, and BBC News provided an early indication of the overall results, pointing towards Labour’s triumph. Polling data suggested a substantial gain for Labour, potentially securing 430 seats in the House of Commons.
Starmer’s leadership style and strategic shift away from socialism towards centrism drew both praise and criticism. His ability to appeal to a broader voter base reflected in the polling data, indicating a significant increase in support for Labour. The expected victory for Labour in the general election stood in contrast to the rise of far-right parties in Europe, with a notable surge in support for Nigel Farage’s Reform Party in the U.K.
Farage, a prominent figure in British politics known for his anti-immigrant stance, was projected to win several seats in Parliament, signaling a potential increase in his party’s popularity. While not poised to take immediate power, Farage’s influence on the Conservative Party and the political landscape in the U.K. could be substantial following the election.
Overall, the 2024 British general election marked a significant moment in the country’s political landscape, with a potential shift in power from the long-ruling Conservative Party to the Labour Party under Keir Starmer’s leadership. The outcome reflected broader trends in European politics while also highlighting the impact of smaller parties like the Reform Party on the U.K.’s political discourse and future direction.
