UK Conservatives threaten 14-year-old government one month before election – Jovem Pan

In a month, the UK Within two years the country will face legislative elections that could give it a fourth prime minister. That’s because according to opinion polls, Labor appears ahead with 45% of the vote, indicating an unbeatable position to end 14 years of Prime Minister’s Conservative rule. Rishi Sunak, also a candidate in the July 4 elections. According to polls, the Conservatives have 20% of voting intentions, followed by the reformist UK led by Brexit’s architect Nigel Farage with 15%. Sunak assumed power in October 2022, taking over from Liz Truss, who resigned. She was changed Boris Johnson, who also resigned as prime minister after a series of controversies. A British Prime Minister of Indian origin brought elections and dissolved Parliament. This decision was taken after the cabinet meeting. The elections, due to be held by January 2025, were brought forward to July 4 due to pressure on Sunak, exacerbated by unfavorable polls for the conservatives.

In early May, after local elections in the United Kingdom, Labor gained favor and the Conservatives fell – they appear to be torn apart, particularly as they struggle to deliver on some of their pre-Brexit promises. The victors asked Sunak to bring general elections this year, and not in the second half of 2025 – on fighting migration and on economic growth. “Observed” by the Prime Minister. “Blackpool speaks for the whole country, we are fed up after 14 years of failure, 14 years of decline, we want to turn the page and start again with Labour,” announced party leader Keir Starmer. Future Prime Minister. Blackpool lost to South, North West EnglandIt is the 11th local election the Conservatives have lost since the December 2019 election, which they won under Boris Johnson.

Despite an advantage in the polls, the outlook does not bode well for Labor, which has lost support in communities with large Muslim populations amid criticism of its stance on the conflict between Israel and Hamas. In Gaza. However, they received support from 120 people from the business world, confirming the confidence of economic circles for the elections. “We, the directors and investors of British companies, believe the time has come for change,” argue the signatories, including current and former directors of JPMorgan Bank, Heathrow Airport and car manufacturer Aston Martin.

“For too long, our economy has suffered from instability, underdevelopment and a long-term lack of focus”, they analyse. The centre-left party, Labour, “has demonstrated that it has changed and wants to work. Companies to achieve the full economic potential of the United Kingdom. To get votes, the Conservative Prime Minister Minister Rishi Sunak is trying to attract pensioners by promising tax cuts of £95 in 2025-2026 and up to £275 in 2029-2030.“This bold move shows we stand with pensioners,” argued Sunak.

Prime Minister Candidates

Keir Starmer

Keir Starmer, the main opposition leader of the Labor Party in Great Britain │Andy Buchanan/AFP

favorite to win the election, Keir Starmer, aged 61, was born in London and was named a Knight of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to criminal justice, although he did not usually introduce himself as “Sir”. He is the Leader of the Labor Opposition, a former human rights lawyer and worked in the Office of the Attorney General for England and Wales. Since he became Labor leader in 2020, he has sought to balance the party towards the center after more left-wing years with Jeremy Corbyn accused of allowing anti-Semitism to flourish on its benches. To his supporters, he is practical, reliable and ready to get England back on track in economic decline. His critics decry his changes in direction, lack of charisma and difficulties in establishing a clear plan for the country’s future.

Rishi Sunak

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announces snap election for July 4│NEIL HALL/EFE/EPA

At the age of 44, Rishi Sunak, the current Prime Minister, appears second in the British election polls. He has been in office since October 2022, succeeding Liz Truss, who was forced to leave after 49 days with a budget plan that sent panic into markets, and will be trying to be elected for the first time by Britons. However, according to opinion polls, Sunak has the lowest popularity rating in the history of British Prime Ministers. The Indian-origin former economy minister is the first head of government in the United Kingdom with Asian roots and the youngest in 200 years. Businessman Boris Johnson brought stability to years of chaos and halved inflation amid a crisis of rising living costs. However, he failed to deliver on many promises, such as sending irregular migrants to Rwanda and reducing waiting times in the NHS public health service.

Nigel Farage

Nigel Farage, honorary chairman and newly appointed leader of the British right-wing populist party Reform UK, attends a campaign rally │HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP

Despite announcing at the end of May that he would not contest the Assembly election, Nigel Farage changed his mind and announced his candidacy on June 3, saying the election should still be “vibrant”. At 60, the far-right former MP is one of England’s most controversial political figures. Former US President Donald Trump called him “Mr. Brexit”, after convincing a majority of Britons to vote in favor of breaking with the European Union in 2016. Farage is the new leader of the Reform UK Party, a Europhobic, anti-immigration party hostile to environmental policies.

Other candidates

Liberal Democrats (LD) leader Ed Davey is unlikely to be elected, but he and Scottish First Minister John Swinney’s formation, the Scottish National Party (SNP), could have the final say. Davey, 58, hopes his party will win some seats in southern England, which would allow the centrists to stay ahead of the SNP, the third-largest party, in parliament. Swinney, though not running in this election, could influence the outcome. 38-year-old Carla Denier, one of the leaders of the Green Party (Green Party) environmentalists, hopes to win a seat in Bristol (southwest of England), which has only four representatives in Parliament to strengthen the presence of this group. .

*With information from AFP and EFE