UK general elections 2024: Public to choose between Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer
Voting will take place in the United Kingdom today. This will be the first national election in the country in nearly five years. Know about the election process, major issues and parties: –
How will the election be held?
People in the United Kingdom will vote to elect all 650 members of the House of Commons. Britain uses a ‘first-place candidate’ system of voting, which means that the top-ranked candidate in each constituency will be elected, even if they do not get 50% of the vote.
This system has generally strengthened the dominance of the two largest parties, the Conservatives and Labor, as it is difficult for smaller parties to win seats unless they have concentrated support in specific areas.
How is the Prime Minister selected in UK?
The party with the most elected MPs forms the government and its leader becomes the Prime Minister. If no party wins the election, it is called a hung parliament. If this happens, two or more parties can agree to form a coalition government.
UK general elections 2024: Who is in the fray?
Former Treasury chief Rishi Sunak, who has been Prime Minister since October 2022, is leading the Conservative Party in the election. His main rival is Keir Starmer, former Director of Public Prosecutions in England and leader of the Labour Party since April 2020. If the Labour Party wins the election, Starmer will hold the key to 10, Downing Street. Apart from the Conservative and Labour parties, some smaller parties can prove to be important in case no party gets a majority.
What are the biggest issues?
Economy: Britain is struggling with high inflation and slow economic growth, due to which most people are feeling economic troubles. The Conservatives managed to control inflation, which slowed to 2% by May after peaking at 11.1% in October 2022, but growth remains sluggish, raising questions about the government’s economic policies.
Immigration: Thousands of refugees and economic migrants have crossed the English Channel in poorly inflated boats in recent years, leading the government to face criticism that it has lost control of Britain’s borders. The Conservatives’ main policy to curb immigration is a plan to deport some of these migrants to Rwanda. Critics say the plan violates international law, is inhumane and will do nothing to stop people fleeing war, unrest and famine.
Healthcare: Britain’s National Health Service, which provides free healthcare to all, is struggling with long waiting lists for everything from dental care to cancer treatment. Newspapers are filled with reports about critically ill patients having to wait hours for an ambulance, then even longer for a hospital bed.
