UK Elections: Here's What To Expect From July 4 Polls And What Are The Issues Deciding Votes

Surveys predicted Rishi Sunak to become the first sitting PM ever to lose their seat at a general election. Labour leader Keir Starmer is set to become prime minister if his party wins the election. 

UK election is scheduled to be held in July amid a host of factors: a resurging Labour Party, economic slowdown, rising cost of living and Conservatives infighting.

The election, which was expected to take place in the autumn of January 2025, has been brought forward to July 4, in what seemed to be a strategic gamble for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. However, polls have found that the UK's Labour Party is set to win a record-breaking number of seats in July's poll.

The polls, YouGov and Savanta/Electoral Calculus, showed that the support for the Tories, in power since 2010, plummeting to unprecedented lows while the Labour expected to win either 425 or 516 out of 650 seats.

Other surveys showed Rishi Sunak to become the first sitting prime minister ever to lose their seat at a general election. Meanwhile, Labour leader Keir Starmer is set to become prime minister if his party wins July 4 elections. 

All About UK Elections

The election to elect the next government in the UK will take place on July 4 with polling to be conducted between 7 am and 10 pm.  

Several parties including the Labour Party, the Liberal Democrats, the Conservative Party and Reform UK are contesting the general elections.

The UK is divided into 650 constituencies and voters will cast their votes to elect one MP to represent each seat.

The results will begin to trickle in from around 11 pm on Thursday July 4, following the closing of polling stations at 10 pm.

Burning Issues

There are several issues this election ranging from economic stagnation to a housing crisis, high cost of living and immigration. The controversial plan to deport 'illegal' asylum seekers to Rawanda has sparked row, with critics arguing that it violates international law. The Labour Party, on the other hand, promised that the Rwanda plan would be scrapped. 

The rising property prices, rent hikes and a lack of affordable new houses have been the reasons behind the housing crisis.

The National Health Service (NHS) has been one of the most pressing issues with 7.6 million people on the waiting lists and critical patients facing severe delays in receiving care. Though Conservatives have promised to increase the budget for the NHS, but it has been too late. 

The Labour has meanwhile promised to cut NHS waiting times by adding 40,000 more health appointments every week and doubling the number of cancer scanners to cut cancer treatment waiting times.

Several other issues including the UK's support to Ukraine, the Gaza war and Brexit remain concerns for the voters. 

Conservative Faces Crisis

The Conservative Party, which has been in power since 2010 under five leaders including current Rishi Sunak and David Cameron, faces significant challenges and controversies. 

Rishi Sunak is widely seen as having run a lacklustre and error-strewn campaign, including facing criticism earlier this month for leaving early from D-Day commemoration events in France.

Experts have pointed out that the crisis in the Tories has culminated from the long-term decline and decomposition of their vote, accelerated by Brexit, Boris Johnson, the Truss' short stint in power and Sunak’s time in office.