2024 United Kingdom general election
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| 2024 United Kingdom general election | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election name | 2024 United Kingdom general election |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Type | parliamentary |
| Previous election | 2019 United Kingdom general election |
| Previous year | 2019 |
| Next election | Next United Kingdom general election |
| Next year | Next |
| Seats for election | All 650 seats in the House of Commons |
| Majority seats | 326 |
| Turnout | 60.0% |
| Election date | 4 July 2024 |
| Party1 | Labour Party (UK) |
| Leader1 | Keir Starmer |
| Percentage1 | 33.7% |
| Seats1 | 411 |
| Last election1 | 202 |
| Party2 | Conservative Party (UK) |
| Leader2 | Rishi Sunak |
| Percentage2 | 23.7% |
| Seats2 | 121 |
| Last election2 | 365 |
| Party3 | Liberal Democrats (UK) |
| Leader3 | Ed Davey |
| Percentage3 | 12.2% |
| Seats3 | 72 |
| Last election3 | 11 |
| Party4 | Scottish National Party |
| Leader4 | John Swinney |
| Percentage4 | 2.5% |
| Last election4 | 48 |
| Party5 | Reform UK |
| Leader5 | Nigel Farage |
| Percentage5 | 14.3% |
| Title | Prime Minister |
| Before election | Rishi Sunak |
| Before party | Conservative Party (UK) |
| After election | Keir Starmer |
| After party | Labour Party (UK) |
2024 United Kingdom general election was a snap election held on 4 July to elect all 650 members of the House of Commons. The election resulted in a decisive victory for the Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer, ending fourteen years of Conservative government under successive prime ministers including David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak. The result produced one of the largest parliamentary majorities in modern British history and a significant realignment of the political landscape across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Background
The election was called by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in May 2024, against a backdrop of prolonged economic challenges following COVID-19 pandemic and the cost of living crisis. The Conservative government had been weakened by internal strife, including the brief premiership of Liz Truss and the Partygate scandal during the tenure of Boris Johnson. Key legislative acts like the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act 2024 failed to rally consistent support. Meanwhile, Keir Starmer had reshaped the Labour Party since his election as leader, moving its platform toward the political centre. The Scottish National Party faced internal turmoil and a police investigation into its finances, while the emergence of Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, threatened to split the right-wing vote.
Campaign
The official campaign period, governed by rules from the Electoral Commission, was dominated by debates on the National Health Service, taxation, and immigration. Rishi Sunak launched the Conservative manifesto at Silverstone Circuit, emphasizing economic stability. Keir Starmer and the Labour campaign focused on a message of national renewal, launching their platform at Co-op Headquarters in Manchester. Notable campaign events included Ed Davey of the Liberal Democrats undertaking publicity stunts and Nigel Farage winning the seat of Clacton for Reform UK. Key endorsements came from newspapers like The Guardian and The Sun, while televised debates featured on BBC, ITV, and Sky UK.
Results
The Labour Party achieved a landslide victory, winning 411 seats with 33.7% of the popular vote, a swing of approximately 12% from the 2019 election. The Conservative Party suffered its worst defeat in modern history, reduced to 121 seats. The Liberal Democrats made major gains in the South West and the Home Counties, winning 72 seats. The Scottish National Party collapsed to just 9 seats, with Scottish Labour making significant recoveries across Central Scotland. Reform UK won 5 seats, including Clacton for Nigel Farage, and secured 14.3% of the national vote. In Northern Ireland, Sinn Féin became the largest party for the first time, winning 7 seats. Voter turnout was 60.0%, one of the lowest in recent decades.
Aftermath
On 5 July, Rishi Sunak conceded defeat and Keir Starmer accepted an invitation from King Charles III to form a government, becoming Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Starmer appointed a new Cabinet, with Angela Rayner as Deputy Prime Minister and Rachel Reeves as the first female Chancellor of the Exchequer. Sunak announced his intention to resign as Conservative leader, triggering a leadership contest expected to involve figures like Kemi Badenoch and Suella Braverman. The new government's King's Speech, outlining its legislative agenda, was scheduled for 17 July. The results prompted immediate analysis of a major electoral realignment, with significant implications for the future of the Conservative and SNP.
Analysis
Political scientists and commentators described the result as a dramatic electoral realignment, comparing its scale to the 1997 Labour landslide under Tony Blair. The collapse of the Conservative vote was attributed to the rise of Reform UK, voter fatigue after fourteen years in government, and economic discontent. The success of the Labour Party was seen as more a rejection of the Conservatives than a strong positive mandate, given its relatively modest vote share. The fragmentation of the vote, with significant shares for Liberal Democrats, Reform UK, and the Green Party, raised questions about the sustainability of the first-past-the-post system. The result in Scotland marked a potential shift in the dynamics of Scottish independence, while the success of Sinn Féin in Northern Ireland intensified debates around the Irish reunification.
Category:2024 elections in the United Kingdom Category: 2024, and the United Kingdom