British voters are angry and frustrated—angry that the Conservatives, who have held the reins of power for the last fourteen years, failed to deliver on their promises. Polls predict a ‘devastating wipeout’ for the Conservatives. Rishi Sunak will likely lead his party into a ‘historic defeat.’ A Labour Party victory—with a ‘supermajority’—is a foregone conclusion. Kier Starmer is set to become Britain’s next Prime Minister.
‘There’s a strong momentum towards the Labour Party; people want change. I would be surprised if the results were anything other than a resounding victory for the Labour Party. But we must understand that this is, in essence, an anti-incumbency vote. Over the past fourteen years, the Conservatives have ruined their chances with infighting and recklessness,’ said a political journalist who worked with Britain’s leading public-sector broadcaster for over twenty-five years.
Many Conservative Party veterans have braced themselves for a ‘humiliating defeat.’ Speaking to the Madras Courier, a former Conservative Member of Parliament who chose not to contest in the 2024 general elections said, ‘We know we got a few things wrong; we know people are angry and frustrated; we know inflation and rising costs are hurting people. We know we haven’t been able to curb immigration. We know that the winds are against us, and for good reason. We let the British people down…We have moved far away from Conservative values.’
A vote against the Conservatives will turn into a vote for the Labour Party—it is likely to give them the biggest majority of any party since 1832. ‘I’m not a fan of Kier Starmer, but I am voting for the Labour Party because I don’t want the Tories in 10 Downing Street again,’ said a forty-three-year-old ambulance driver.
Voters who have always voted for the Conservatives are also choosing not to vote for them this time. Many are also worried that the Labour Party will move to the far left if they win with an astounding majority. ‘I have always voted for the Tories, but I won’t be voting for them this time. They messed up. But I don’t think Kier Starmer can pull off anything spectacular, either. He comes across as a politician who says things just to become Prime Minister. If anything, I worry that a Labour government will only increase the tax burden on the country. And I don’t want to vote for Nigel Farage’s party, Reform UK, either; they are really racist. I feel like I have to choose between the devil and the deep blue sea,’ says a forty-four-year-old surgeon.
Voters seem disenchanted with the state of British politics. ‘We don’t have much of a choice; All of them are self-seeking politicians who are disconnected from reality. First, there’s the Yorkshire Maharaja, the rich bloke who has no clue about the rest of us. Then there is the slippery Sir Softie, the bloke who makes tall promises without having a clue about how he’ll fulfil them. And then, there is the racist bloke—Trump’s poodle—who comes up with a load of nonsense. Of course, there are the say-gooders on the side, the orangies and the greenies, but no one will vote for them lot.’
The fact is, ‘there is a great need for integrity in public life in this country. Our politicians have let us down. The cost of everything has skyrocketed; people are living through a cost-of-living crisis. Inflation is eating into our savings. Poverty is increasing. The number of people accessing food banks has gone up significantly. Businesses are shutting down. Unemployment is high. Young people can not afford to buy homes. Uncontrolled immigration is putting pressure on our public services; they are crumbling. The NHS [National Health Service], for example, is at breaking point; waiting times, even for those diagnosed with serious illnesses like cancer and heart disease, are very long. There is a societal breakdown. I am sad and angry to see my great country in such a state.’
Voters in the north of England and the West Midlands, unhappy with Kier Starmer’s stance on immigration, are exploring other options. Nigel Farage, with his political start-up, Reform UK, is enticing them with the promise of ‘Net Zero Immigration.’ His campaign, a mirror image of Donald Trump’s campaign, says he will ‘Make Britain Great Again’ by ‘lowering taxes,’ ‘slashing NHS waiting lists,’ ‘slashing Net Zero targets’ and making the Government ‘more responsive, transparent and accountable.’ Curiously, he also wants to introduce ‘some degree of direct democracy.’ But it is unlikely that discerning British voters will cast their votes in favour or Nigel Farage’s Reform UK with a huge majority.
Respondents who spoke to the Madras Courier, particularly from the affluent South and Southeast England, expressed concerns about a possible tax rise due to unplanned expenditure. ‘History will inform you that the Labour Party borrow, borrow, borrow and spend, spend, spend like there is no tomorrow. They would turn the country into a tax farm and end up bankrupting Britain. Be warned,’ said a lawyer from Sunningdale.
Even up north, in Scotland, the Labour Party is expected to win a majority. Even voters who have traditionally voted for the Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) are expecting the Labour Party to make significant gains. Speaking to the Madras Courier, a ‘keen political observer’ said:
I have always voted for and always will vote for the SNP. Nicola Sturgeon was a great leader. But the party needs to recover from those ghastly scandals that have rocked public confidence in them. For everybody else, it may seem like politics as usual. But it isn’t. We are fighting for Independence, for our existence as a free nation. But we may have to endure five more years of colonial rule from 10 Downing Street. The only difference is, earlier, it was the Conservatives. Now, it will be Labour. We will continue to remain Britain’s last colony for at least another five years. It may be an opportunity for the SNP to go back to the drawing board. But whatever it is, we will have to continue the good fight.’
In our conversations with over one hundred people from ‘up and down the country,’ we felt the British voters are undoubtedly seeking a change. But they must ask how they want to bring about that change. Guided by reason and good faith, their judgement will determine the country’s future.
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