Millions of British voters are gearing up to cast their ballots on Thursday to elect a new House of Commons and government. The election will determine which party leader will become the next prime minister based on the party with the most seats in Parliament.

Currently, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party, after 14 years in power under five different leaders, faces a tough challenge from the main opposition, the left-of-center Labour Party. The United Kingdom's electoral system, known as "first past the post," traditionally favors the Conservatives and Labour, making it challenging for smaller parties to secure parliamentary seats.

Aside from the Conservatives and Labour, other significant contenders include the Liberal Democrats, Reform UK, the Scottish National Party (SNP), and the Greens.

Conservatives
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, 44, assumed office in October 2022 amidst economic turbulence following Liz Truss's brief premiership. As Britain's first leader of color and Hindu prime minister, Sunak has emphasized economic stability but faces criticism for lacking political acumen and connection with ordinary voters.

Seats in Last Election: 365
Promises: Boosting the economy, cutting taxes by £17 billion annually, increasing health and defense spending, and capping immigration.

Labour

Led by Keir Starmer, 61, a former chief prosecutor for England and Wales, Labour has moved towards centrist policies under his leadership, distancing itself from the more socialist agenda of previous leaders like Jeremy Corbyn.

Seats in Last Election: 202
Promises: Focus on wealth creation, infrastructure investment, clean energy initiatives, and educational reforms, including taxing private schools to fund public education.

Liberal Democrats

Under the leadership of Ed Davey, 58, the Liberal Democrats advocate for progressive policies including healthcare improvements and environmental protections.

Seats in Last Election: 11

Promises: Enhancing health and social care, investing in renewable energy, and implementing a windfall tax on oil and gas companies to fund public services.
Reform UK

Led by Nigel Farage, 60, Reform UK focuses on anti-immigration policies and Brexit-related issues, appealing to disillusioned Conservative voters.

Seats in Last Election: None

Promises: Freezing nonessential immigration, withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights, and reducing energy costs.
Scottish National Party (SNP)

Led by John Swinney, 60, SNP aims to secure Scottish independence and rejoin the European Union, focusing on healthcare, nuclear disarmament, and environmental initiatives.

Seats in Last Election: 48

Promises: Pursuing Scottish independence negotiations, boosting healthcare funding, and advocating for environmental sustainability.

Greens
Co-led by Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay, the Greens prioritize environmental issues and social justice.

Seats in Last Election: 1

Promises: Phasing out nuclear power, achieving net-zero emissions by 2040, and investing heavily in green infrastructure.
As the election date approaches, these parties and their leaders are actively campaigning across the UK, presenting their visions and policies to voters in what promises to be a pivotal electoral contest.

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