At least seven parties have a path to representation in the UK House of Commons after the general election held on July 4. Even though the British electoral system is not proportional and only the outright winner in each seat gains representation, this setup tends to favor the two major parties and nationalist groups. Other political forces hope to claw votes in the contest and make their voices heard in Parliament for the next five years. Here is a survey of their proposals and their candidates.
Conservative Party
The party of the current prime minister, Rishi Sunak, has tried to climb in the polls with a campaign built on tax cuts and a tough stance on immigration. Although the government has managed to bring inflation down to around 2 percent, far from the 11 percent seen in October 2023, the decline in public services and the rise in irregular migrant arrivals have sparked broad voter disaffection. Polls show many voters turning to other forces in this election.
Sunak has not shed the image of a billionaire distant from working people who have faced rising living costs in recent months. The scandals surrounding former Prime Minister Boris Johnson during the pandemic, along with the economic missteps of his successor, Liz Truss, have further hindered Sunak’s chances of victory in these elections.
Labour Party
The Labour Party has campaigned with a sense of caution. Its leader, Keir Starmer, has avoided touching sensitive topics that might unsettle conservative voters, such as climate action, Middle East policy, or gender issues. The program emphasizes reducing NHS waiting times, expanding the number of teachers in public schools, and driving economic growth through housing and infrastructure development.
Starmer has sought to attract moderate Conservative voters by promising no income tax or National Insurance increases and by strengthening national security and border controls. Despite a reputation for being steady rather than flashy, the Labour leader has capitalized on broad discontent with the Conservative government after fourteen years in power. He presents himself as a candidate for stability and prudence, moving away from some of the more left-leaning policies associated with his predecessor, Jeremy Corbyn.
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats aim to win back much of the votes lost in 2019, especially in the so-called blue wall in southern England. Their program calls for recruiting 8,000 family doctors and ensuring free dental care and mental health treatment. They also propose increased public spending funded by higher taxes on the wealthiest individuals and on energy and financial firms, with a goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2045, five years earlier than Labour and the Conservatives.
Their leader, Ed Davey, is a familiar name in British politics. Formerly Energy and Climate Change Secretary in Cameron’s coalition government and a Commons veteran of 25 years, Davey is seen as attracting much of the center’s moderate electorate that backed Boris Johnson a few years ago. Polls suggest he could lift Liberal Democrat results significantly compared with the last general election.
Reform UK
The right-wing populist party has drawn in conservative voters favorable to Brexit and proposes stringent measures to curb immigration. Among its proposals is handing over irregular migrants to France and opting out of the European Court of Human Rights to facilitate deportation policies such as sending asylum seekers to Rwanda. Economically, Reform UK has floated multimillion-pound tax cuts but has struggled to detail how these would be financed.
The charismatic Nigel Farage’s decision to lead the party has given it a boost, and it is expected to finish as the third force in votes, close to the Conservatives in share. Yet polls anticipate fewer than ten MPs, with the party winning the most votes in only a handful of seats.
Green Party
The Green Party presents itself as an alternative for left-leaning voters who feel the Labour leadership has shifted toward the center. Its program includes a substantial increase in public health and care spending, the elimination of costly university tuition, and achieving carbon neutrality by 2040. It would fund these policies with higher taxes on the wealthy and on earners above a certain threshold, including those earning over 50,270 pounds a year.
Led by Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay since 2021, the Greens have attracted a younger, highly educated electorate. Polls suggest they could become the most voted party in at least two seats, notably Bristol and Brighton.
Scottish National Party (SNP)
The SNP runs in these elections in a period of fatigue for its governance in Scotland. The pandemic and rising living costs have taken a toll, and Westminster debates about a potential second independence referendum have not gained strong momentum. The party continues to press its aim for Scottish independence and reentry into the European Union, while arguing that Scotland bears a greater share of the costs tied to London governance.
The resignation of First Minister Humza Yousaf last April opened a new leadership under John Swinney. The veteran leader has managed to unify the party around his figure, but the weariness after 17 years of SNP government is expected to translate into a significant loss of votes and representation in the forthcoming Parliament election.
Plaid Cymru (Welsh National Party)
Plaid Cymru, the Welsh nationalist party, centers its program on securing better funding from the London government to improve public services such as health care and infrastructure. The party, positioned center-left, defends Welsh independence and a return to the European Single Market and freedom of movement with a long-term goal of rejoining the EU club on favorable terms.
Its leader Rhun ap Iorwerth, formerly a BBC Wales journalist for two decades before entering the Welsh Parliament, has united the party around his leadership. Concentrating strength in northern Wales, Plaid Cymru aims to retain the four seats won in 2019.