Labour favoured in UK election

In 2016, the United Kingdom made the decision to leave the European Union in a referendum known as Brexit, going against the trend of continental Europe. Now, eight years later, it seems that the UK is once again diverging from its neighbors in terms of political direction. While right-wing parties are winning elections in other European countries, the British are indicating a shift to the left in the upcoming general elections scheduled for Thursday.

Recent polls show that the Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer, is garnering around 40% of voting intentions and is expected to regain control of number 10 Downing Street after a 14-year absence. The Conservatives, led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, have dominated UK politics since 2010 but have faced challenges since the resignation of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2022 due to the Partygate scandal.

After Johnson’s departure and Sunak’s inauguration, the Conservative Party faced a series of setbacks, including economic struggles in 2023 and internal turmoil leading to multiple changes in leadership. Sunak decided to call for elections only after a slight improvement in the country’s economic data and progress in his immigration reform measures. However, the Conservative Party’s luck continued to decline with the resignation of Sunak’s campaign manager amidst allegations of insider trading.

Despite some polls indicating a conservative uptick in recent days, the Conservatives are at risk of falling behind Reform UK, Nigel Farage’s right-wing nationalist party, in the British Parliament. Farage, a prominent Brexit campaigner, aims to position Reform UK as a genuine opposition to a potential Labour government, although he acknowledges he may not win the election.

The upcoming elections will reveal whether the historic two-party rivalry in Britain is coming to an end or if there will be a significant shift in the country’s political landscape.