by Sheraz Khan – London*
After 14 years in opposition, the Labour Party is as hopeful of winning the general elections on July 4th as the ruling Conservative Party. Both major parties are making every effort to prove themselves superior to each other to gain the trust of divided voters on internal and external policies. It seems that the Conservative Party, which has been in power for a long time, is now struggling, while the Labour Party is eager to seize the opportunity of power, making numerous promises during the election campaign.
In the past, the Conservative Party was considered right-wing and the Labour Party left-wing, or representing the poor and working class, while the Conservatives were seen as the party of the wealthy and businessmen. However, now there is not much difference between the two, leaving voters confused about what fundamentally separates them. Labour came to power under former leader Tony Blair with the slogan of “New Labour” and was in power for three terms before losing it. Now, Labour leader Keir Starmer is knocking on the door of power with the slogan of “Change,” although the Labour Party has been aligned with the Conservatives on issues such as the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
British voters traditionally prioritize national and public interests over personal interests and vote more based on party policies than individual candidates. New voters may be hesitant to vote for Labour, unsure if it can deliver on its promises. Young voters, who are voting for the first time, may not have any reference to Labour’s past governance.
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is running as an independent, criticizing Labour policies, joined by hundreds of independent candidates protesting against both major parties. Over a hundred Members of Parliament have also announced they will not be seeking re-election, citing a desire to spend more time with their families.
The Conservative Party appears to lack strong leadership and faces internal divisions. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s sudden election announcement left no time to choose a new leader, which could have yielded different results for the Tories. On the other hand, Labour has promised economic growth without increasing taxes, national insurance, or VAT. They have also pledged to improve the NHS and reform immigration policies. Deputy Leader Angela Rayner emphasized economic growth and reforms in her speech.
Keir Starmer has indicated on various platforms that he would recognize Palestine as an independent state like Spain, Ireland, and Norway, but without a clear timeframe, which has disappointed many supporters of Palestine, including the British Muslim population. Labour has not made any specific promises regarding Kashmir, which was previously part of its manifesto.
For voter convenience, I will present Labour’s full manifesto at the end of this column and, if given the opportunity, I will try to cover other parties’ manifestos as well. The third major party, the Liberal Democrats, might gain more seats but will still remain the third largest party. George Galloway, who has been vocal on issues like Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, and Kashmir, has fielded about 300 candidates from his Workers Party, many of whom are Muslim.
Remember, a total of 650 Members of Parliament are directly elected by the public, with no reserved seats for minorities or women. Strong institutions mean the government, regardless of who is in power, cannot influence the judiciary, police, election commission, or civil servants. Voting requires photo ID, as exemplified when former Prime Minister Boris Johnson was turned away for not having his ID during the last local government elections.
Labour’s manifesto promises significant reforms:
- No increase in income tax, national insurance, or VAT rates.
- Focus on economic stability, reducing NHS waiting times, launching a new border security command, establishing Great British Energy, cracking down on anti-social behavior, and recruiting 6,500 new teachers.
This comprehensive plan aims to address the long-term challenges facing the country, reflecting Labour’s commitment to providing a detailed and future-oriented approach to governance.
