UK: Today, voters in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland are participating in a historic general election, marking the first July poll since 1945. Polling stations in all 650 constituencies opened at 7 a.m., and counting will begin immediately after voting ends.

The election follows six weeks of intense campaigning from both the current Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition. This period of political turbulence has seen three Conservative prime ministers in nearly five years. Labour’s platform, focused on change, includes promises to create a publicly owned energy company, nationalize railways, reduce net migration, recruit 6,500 teachers, and create over 100,000 new nursery places. The Conservative Party, on the other hand, has pledged to introduce compulsory national service for 18-year-olds, cap migrant visas, recruit 8,000 police officers, and further cut national insurance.

Despite these pledges, senior Conservative figures conceded potential defeat on Wednesday, with Labour maintaining a strong 20-point lead in opinion polls throughout the campaign. A recent YouGov poll suggested Labour could achieve its largest majority in modern history.

The election follows a tumultuous period for the Conservative Party, with Boris Johnson’s resignation in 2022 after scandals and Liz Truss’s brief 45-day premiership. Current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who succeeded Truss, has struggled to revive Conservative fortunes.

In total, 650 MPs will be elected under the first-past-the-post system. To secure an overall majority, a party must win at least 326 seats. All British citizens aged 18 or over, as well as Commonwealth and Irish residents in the UK, are eligible to vote.

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