UK Election 2024 Highlights: ‘Labour Party set for landslide win’

UK Election 2024: The final results in the UK election are likely to be announced between 9:30 am to 11:30 am IST.

Keir Starmer, 61, a Labour Party candidate standing against Rishi Sunak in the UK Election 2024, assumed leadership of the party in 2020 following its worst electoral defeat in 84 years in 2019 under veteran left-wing figure Jeremy Corbyn. He focused on shaping Labour as a party known for competence and pragmatism rather than being driven primarily by ideology. Starmer, a former human rights lawyer who ascended to become Britain's top prosecutor, entered parliament in 2015 and served as Corbyn's spokesperson on Brexit. He was named after Keir Hardie, the founder of the Labour Party.

Northern Ireland First Minister and Sinn Féin vice-president Michelle O'Neill has cast her vote at a polling station at a school in County Tyrone, the BBC is reporting.

The future of Rishi Sunak as Britain’s Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party hangs in the balance as polling booths opened across the UK on Thursday.

Sunak, 44, is up against voter angst towards the incumbent Tories after 14 years in power and has had to contend with trailing far behind 61-year-old Keir Starmer led Labour Party throughout the six-week campaign. Read more.

Alliance Party leader Naomi Long cast her vote in a church in Belfast. She was pictured with her husband, Michael Long and their dog Daisy, reported the BBC.

UK Election 2024: Around 40,000 polling booths opened across the country at 7 am local time as an estimated 46 million registered voters began turning out to mark a cross next to their chosen candidate on a paper ballot.

Candidates are being fielded for 650 constituencies across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, with 326 required for a majority in the first past the post system.

Polls opened at 7am (local time) and will close at 10pm. Even before in-person voting began, hundreds of thousands of people had cast their ballot by postal vote, according to AP.

Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party and Victoria Starmer, his wife, have arrived in London to cast their votes in the general election.

UK Election 2024 Live: UK PM Rishi Sunak has urged people to: “Head to your polling station. Bring ID. Vote Conservative. Stop the Labour supermajority.”

UK Election 2024 Live: Scottish First Minister and Scottish National Party (SNP) leader John Swinney has recently voted at Burrelton Village Hall in Blairgowrie, as reported by the BBC.

UK Election 2024 Live: If the forecasts from opinion polls hold true, Britain appears poised to join other European nations in expressing dissatisfaction with its government in response to the economic hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Unlike France, where the shift has been towards the right, Britain seems likely to move towards the centre-left.

Labour has maintained a consistent lead in polls, ranging between 15 to 20 points, ever since Rishi Sunak was selected by his party members in October 2022 to succeed Liz Truss, who resigned after just 44 days, triggering a crisis in the bond market and a sharp decline in the value of the pound.

UK Election 2024 Live: At 7 am local time, around 40,000 polling booths opened across the UK, marking the beginning of voting for an estimated 46 million registered voters.

- This year, voters must carry an identification document to the polling booth, a new requirement for UK elections open to all registered adult voters, including Commonwealth citizens like Indians.

- Many voters have already participated through postal ballots, which can still be submitted to local councils if not yet returned.

- Polling booths will close at 10 pm local time, after which attention will turn to the exit poll, providing an initial indication of the national outcome.

- Counting of votes will commence immediately across the country, with the first results expected shortly before midnight local time.

UK Election 2024 Live: European stock markets saw gains early on Thursday as voting commenced in a pivotal UK general election.

The FTSE 100 in London increased by 0.4 per cent to 8,205.46 points shortly after polls opened. Expectations suggest that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party is likely to face significant losses to the centre-left Labour Party.

In the eurozone, Paris's CAC 40 rose by 0.5 per cent to 7,669.11 points, while Frankfurt's DAX climbed 0.2 per cent to 18,417.54 points ahead of France's upcoming legislative elections this Sunday.

(With AFP inputs)

UK Election 2024 Live: Prime Minister and Conservative Party candidate Rishi Sunak has cast his vote in North Yorkshire, according to a BBC report

He and his wife Akshata Murty visited their polling station in a village hall in Northallerton approximately thirty minutes after the polls opened.

UK Election 2024 Live: Some FAQs regarding voting answered

Do I have to vote?

Voting in UK elections is voluntary. It's your choice whether or not to participate.

Do I need my polling card to vote?

No, your polling card isn't necessary to vote, but having it might speed up the process.

Can I bring a valid photo ID?

Yes, you need a valid photo ID. Accepted types are listed externally.

Can I take a selfie?

No, taking photos inside a polling station isn't allowed. However, you can take selfies outside.

Can I vote if I've been drinking?

Yes, you can still vote if you've been drinking, unless you are causing disruption.

UK Election 2024 Live: Candidates are standing in 650 constituencies across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. A majority of 326 seats is needed under the first-past-the-post system.

• Aside from the main parties, voters have options from candidates representing the Liberal Democrats, Green Party, Scottish National Party (SNP), SDLP, Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Sinn Fein, Plaid Cymru, the anti-immigration Reform Party, and several running as Independents.

UK Election 2024 Live: Generally, animals other than assistance dogs are not allowed inside polling stations but may be permitted outside, subject to local authority discretion, according to a BBC report.

UK Election 2024 Live: Today, polling stations opened across the UK as millions prepared to cast their votes in the general election, placing the future of Rishi Sunak as Britain’s Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader in uncertainty.

Sunak faces voter discontent towards the long-standing Conservative government, while trailing behind Keir Starmer's Labour Party throughout the six-week campaign.

He cautioned against granting “tax-raising” Labour a “supermajority” emphasising the stakes of the election.

Starmer downplayed expectations of a landslide victory, expressing concerns about potential voter turnout affecting the final election results.

(With agency inputs)

UK Election 2024 Live: Polls have opened in the British election as voters look for change after 14 years of Conservative rule.

Voting started at 7 am (local time) and will continue until 10 pm, after which the exit poll results will be released.

Even before in-person voting began, hundreds of thousands of people had already cast their ballots by postal vote.

An exit poll, commissioned by the main UK broadcasters, will be published as soon as the polls close, providing an early indication of the likely outcome.

UK Election 2024 Live Updates: In the event of a hung parliament, options include forming a minority government, creating a coalition government, or holding a new election.

UK Election 2024 Live Updates: Election night imeline

10 pm Thursday

Voting ends.

BBC, Sky, and ITV release Ipsos exit poll.

11 pm

North East England constituencies race to complete counts.

Blyth and Ashington results at 11:30 p.m.

Houghton and Sunderland South results at 11:45 p.m.

Midnight

Potential first Tory loss in Basildon and Billericay.

Labour's first gain from Tories in Broxbourne expected.

Labour may regain red wall seats starting with Cramlington and Killingworth.

1 am Friday

Labour gains possible from SNP in redrawn Rutherglen.

Labour gains from Tories in Leigh and Atherton, Swindon North.

Liberal Democrats could gain Harrogate and Knaresborough.

2 am

Tories defend North West Essex, Castle Point, Havant.

Labour looks to gain Middlesbrough South, East Cleveland, Glenrothes, Mid Fife, West Dunbartonshire, Paisley, Renfrewshire South.

2:30 am

Speaker Lindsay Hoyle’s Chorley seat announces.

Labour hopes to regain Heywood, Middleton North, Burnley, Bolsover.

Liberal Democrats target Stratford-on-Avon, North East Hampshire.

Key seat: Rochdale.

3 am

Over 100 seats announce results.

Labour aims to win back red wall seats: Bolton North East, Dudley, Great Grimsby, Cleethorpes, Tipton, Wednesbury, West Bromwich.

Islington North result for Jeremy Corbyn.

Tory cabinet ministers at risk in Cheltenham, Forest of Dean.

3:15 am

Greens target Bristol Central.

Labour and Liberal Democrats aim for Stroud, Witney, Caerfyrddin, Scunthorpe.

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey’s seat due to announce.

3:30 am

Labour aims for red wall seats: Gedling, Hyndburn, Rother Valley, Wolverhampton North East.

Blue wall seats: Esher and Walton, Harrow East.

Dover and Deal results.

3:45 am

Labour hopes to take Redditch, Ribble Valley.

Liberal Democrats target Wimbledon, Carshalton, Wallington.

4 am

More than 120 constituencies declare.

Potential Tory losses in Richmond, Northallerton, Braintree, Central Devon.

Nigel Farage’s Reform UK seeks Clacton, Boston and Skegness.

Labour targets Newton Aycliffe, Spennymoor, Penistone, Stocksbridge, Birmingham Northfield, Bishop Auckland, Birmingham Ladywood.

4:15 am

Starmer's expected win in Holborn and St. Pancras.

Uxbridge and South Ruislip likely to fall to Labour.

4:30 am

Labour could reach 326 seats.

Tory losses: North East Somerset, Hanham, Worthing West, Monmouthshire, Kensington and Bayswater, Milton Keynes North, Surrey Heath, Tunbridge Wells.

Minor party success in Brighton Pavilion.

5 am

Potential cabinet casualties in Banbury, Ely, East Cambridgeshire.

Labour targets Earley and Woodley, Filton and Bradley Stoke, Truro and Falmouth, North Somerset, Hitchin, Doncaster East, Isle of Axholme, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Ossett, Denby Dale, Stoke-on-Trent.

Liberal Democrats aim for Lewes, Newbury, Winchester, Maidenhead.

5:30 am

Liz Truss expected to hold South West Norfolk.

Labour targets Chipping Barnet, Hendon.

Liberal Democrats target Didcot and Wantage.

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner's seat declares.

6 am

Last results trickle in.

Liberal Democrats hold Chesham and Amersham, target Wokingham, Henley and Thame.

Labour targets Croydon South, Wycombe.

6:30 am

Final declarations include Ilford North.

Focus on government transition if Labour wins.

Sunak to resign, Starmer invited to form new government.

UK Election 2024 Live Updates: The Conservative Party MPs appointed Rishi Sunak, a 44-year-old former financier, in October 2022, following the collapse of Liz Truss's 49-day premiership due to market concerns over her tax-cutting proposals.

Sunak managed to stabilize the country's economy to some extent but struggled to quell internal Conservative disputes or close the gap in polling numbers against the Labour Party.

Encouraged by rare positive economic indicators, Sunak called for an election on July 4, despite not facing voters until early 2025. His aim was to surprise right-wing Reform UK and diminish Labour's substantial lead in the polls during the campaign.

However, Sunak's election campaign has been marred by multiple setbacks. Among the most damaging was his early departure from D-Day commemoration events in France, which sparked significant criticism and alienated crucial right-wing voters.

Now, these voters appear poised to support Reform UK, led by Brexit figure Nigel Farage.

Additionally, Sunak had to apologize after Conservative candidates and the party's campaign chief were investigated for allegedly placing bets on the election date before it was officially announced.

UK Election Live Updates: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of the Conservative party, who followed Boris Johnson, seeks reelection for a second term. The Conservatives and Labour are the dominant forces in British politics, with the former having held power for 14 years and seen five different prime ministers.

Keir Starmer of the Labour Party is forecasted to secure 484 out of 650 parliamentary seats, as indicated by a Survation survey, significantly surpassing the party's previous record of 418 seats in the 1997 election under Tony Blair. Full details here