UK general elections 2024: Who are the key candidates? – Hindustan Times

Tens of millions of voters in Britain are going to the polls Thursday to decide on a brand new Home of Commons and a brand new authorities.

Voters will elect 650 lawmakers representing as many constituencies, or native areas, and the chief of the occasion that returns probably the most lawmakers will grow to be prime minister.

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Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives are extensively anticipated to lose to the principle opposition occasion, the left-of-center Labour, after 14 years in energy below 5 completely different prime ministers.

The Conservatives and Labour historically dominate British politics below the U.Okay.’s “first previous the submit” electoral system, which makes it tough for smaller events to win illustration in Parliament.

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But in addition within the working are the Liberal Democrats, Reform UK, the Scottish Nationwide Get together and the Greens, amongst others.

This is a take a look at the events, who’s main them and what they’re promising:

CONSERVATIVES

Who’s their chief? Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

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Sunak, 44, got here to energy in October 2022 when he inherited a Conservative Get together and an financial system in turmoil after Liz Truss’s short-lived premiership. The Oxford graduate and former Goldman Sachs hedge fund supervisor is Britain’s first chief of colour and the primary Hindu to grow to be prime minister. Sunak has confused he’s the person who steadied the ship, however critics say he lacks political judgement and is out of contact with peculiar voters.

What number of seats did they win within the final election? 365

What are they promising? Delivering a stronger financial system and slicing taxes by some 17 billion kilos per 12 months. Rising public well being spending above inflation, and boosting protection spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2030. The occasion says this will likely be paid for by financial savings on tax evasion and slashing welfare spending. The occasion additionally pledges to cap immigration numbers and take away some asylum-seekers to Rwanda.

LABOUR

Who’s their chief? Keir Starmer.

The 61-year-old lawyer, a former chief prosecutor for England and Wales, is the present favourite to be Britain’s subsequent chief. A centrist and pragmatist, Starmer has labored exhausting to steer his occasion away from the extra overtly socialist insurance policies of former chief Jeremy Corbyn and quelled inner divisions. Critics name him unexciting and unambitious, however Labour has surged in reputation below his management.

What number of seats did they win within the final election? 202

What are they promising? Selling “wealth creation,” encouraging funding and enhancing Britain’s infrastructure like railways below a 10-year infrastructure technique. Establishing a state-owned clear energy firm to spice up power safety, paid for by a windfall tax on oil and fuel giants. Taxing non-public faculties to pay for hundreds of recent academics in state faculties. Chopping record-high public well being ready instances.

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS

Who’s their chief? Ed Davey.

Davey, 58, was first elected to Parliament in 1997. The previous economics researcher served as the federal government’s power and local weather change secretary below an uneasy Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition from 2012 to 2015. Davey grew to become chief of the left-of-center Lib Dems in 2019 and was not a family title till this election, when he made headlines with a number of zany stunts — together with bungee-jumping to induce voters to take “a leap of religion.”

What number of seats did they win within the final election? 11

What are they promising? Enhancing Britain’s overstretched well being and social care methods, together with introducing free nursing care at dwelling. Investing in renewable power and residential insulation. Clamping down on sewage-dumping water corporations. Decreasing the voting age to 16. Rejoining the European Union’s single market.

REFORM UK

Who’s their chief? Nigel Farage.

Farage, a political firebrand who takes delight in being the disruptor in British politics, has posed a severe headache to the Conservatives since he introduced he’s working within the election. The 60-year-old populist has lengthy divided opinion together with his anti-migrant rhetoric and Euroskeptic stance. A key proponent of Brexit, Farage is capturing many disillusioned Conservative voters together with his guarantees to chop immigration and deal with “British values.” Farage beforehand ran for Parliament seven instances however by no means received.

What number of seats did they win within the final election? None — although the occasion gained its first lawmaker this 12 months when ex-Conservative Get together deputy chair Lee Anderson defected to Reform.

What are they promising? Freezing all “nonessential immigration” and barring worldwide college students from bringing their dependents with them. Leaving the European Conference on Human Rights in order that asylum-seekers may be deported with out interventions from rights courts. Scrapping “web zero” objectives to scale back greenhouse fuel emissions as a way to convey down power payments.

SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY (SNP)

Who’s their chief? John Swinney.

Swinney, 60, grew to become the SNP’s third chief in simply over a 12 months in Could. The politician has sought to convey stability to the occasion, which has been in turmoil since Scotland’s long-serving First Minister Nicola Sturgeon abruptly stepped down final 12 months throughout a marketing campaign finance investigation that finally led to felony expenses towards her husband. Swinney has lengthy served the occasion: he joined its ranks at 15 years outdated, and beforehand led the occasion from 2000 to 2004.

What number of seats did they win within the final election? 48

What are they promising? Swinney has mentioned that if his occasion wins a majority of seats in Scotland he’ll attempt to open Scottish independence negotiations with the London-based U.Okay. authorities. He desires to rejoin the European Union and the European single market. He additionally referred to as for enhancing public well being funding, scrapping the U.Okay.’s Scotland-based nuclear deterrent, and a direct cease-fire in Gaza.

GREEN PARTY

Who’s their chief? Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay.

Denyer, a mechanical engineer, labored in wind power earlier than she joined the Greens in 2011. The 38-year-old served as an area politician for the southwestern English metropolis of Bristol for 9 years. In 2021 she was elected co-leader of the Greens together with Ramsay, additionally an area authorities politician who has expertise working with environmental charities.

What number of seats did they win within the final election? 1

What are they promising? Phasing out nuclear energy and getting the U.Okay. to web zero by 2040. The Greens have pledged 24 billion kilos a 12 months to insulate properties and 40 billion kilos a 12 months invested within the inexperienced financial system, to be paid for by a carbon tax, a brand new wealth tax on the very wealthy and an earnings tax hike for thousands and thousands of upper earners.