About the Author(s)
Syed Hasib Shah
Author is an Assistant Professor in Higher and Technical Education Department Government of Pakistan since 2007. Alongside, he write on political, social, contemporary and literary issues both in Urdu and English in various Pakistani newspapers.
The recent British elections have proven to be historic in many respects, as they marked the Labour Party’s return to power after 15 years. The party last won a general election in 2005. Since 2009, the Conservative Party has consistently won elections, despite undergoing five leadership changes. In 2005, Tony Blair, then head of the Labour Party, led his party to a third consecutive victory. However, Blair’s heavy reliance on the United States and his controversial support for the 2003 invasion of Iraq, based on dubious allegations of chemical weapons, led to a sharp decline in his popularity, culminating in Labour’s defeat in the 2009 election.
From 2009 to 2024, the Conservative Party dominated British politics, with five different Prime Ministers—David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak. Only David Cameron managed to complete a full term and serve two years into his second before resigning following the Brexit referendum. Over the last eight years, the Conservative governments have faced chronic instability, with four Prime Ministers being replaced. This turmoil ultimately paved the way for the Labour Party’s historic comeback after a 15 year absence from power.
The rivalry between the Conservative and Labour parties has spanned over a century. The Conservative Party advocates for liberal economic policies, including a free market economy and privatisation. It supports the UK’s membership in the European Union (EU) and NATO alliances, opposes the creation of a United Ireland, and resists Scottish and Welsh independence. The party’s support base mainly consists of business professionals, farmers, real estate owners, and the middle class, particularly in rural and suburban areas. The Conservatives are also more inclined toward preserving the monarchy, viewing it as a stabilizing force and being wary of any significant constitutional changes that could threaten national integrity. The party has seen iconic leaders like Benjamin Disraeli, Winston Churchill, and Margaret Thatcher.
In contrast, the Labour Party supports fundamental constitutional changes, arguing that global and human rights principles should be integral to the British Constitution.Although historically critical of the monarchy, considering it a burden on the British public, Labour now favors its continuation but advocates for certain constitutional reforms. While there are still some republicans within the party who push for the abolition of the monarchy, their influence has diminished. Like the Conservatives, Labour opposes the idea of a United Ireland, as well as Scottish and Welsh independence. However, in a surprising turn of events, Scottish voters handed the Scottish National Party (SNP), which champions independence, a crushing defeat in this election. After winning 48 of Scotland’s 57 seats in the previous election, the SNP was reduced to just nine seats this time. The underlying reasons for this dramatic shift remain unclear—whether the fervor for independence has waned among the Scottish people or whether dissatisfaction with the SNP’s governance led to their downfall.
On the international front, Labour shares the Conservative Party’s stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict, advocating for a two-state solution, albeit with a clear bias towards Israel. The current Labour leader and Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, is a vocal critic of Hamas and a strong supporter of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government in Israel. This contrasts sharply with his predecessor, Jeremy Corbyn, a staunch socialist who favored the Palestinian cause and condemned Israel as a fascist and occupying state—a stance that cost Labour the election during his tenure.
Labour’s victory in this election is remarkable, as it comes after 19 years and with a decisive majority. The party’s seats increased from 202 in the previous election to 411, a gain of 209 seats. On the other hand, the Conservative Party, which held 365 seats, saw a dramatic decline, now reduced to just 121 seats—a loss of 244. The Liberal Democrats also made notable gains, increasing their seats from 11 to 72, signaling that the British public may be seriously considering a third party option.
In the aftermath, it is essential to examine the factors that contributed to the Conservatives’ crushing defeat:
1. Brexit:
The Conservative legacy of Brexit has had severe repercussions on British lives, leading to rising living costs, shrinking household economies, and skyrocketing housing prices, making life increasingly difficult for ordinary people. Although the Conservatives initially opposed Brexit, the referendum and its outcome severely damaged their credibility.
2. Immigration Crisis:
The Conservative Party failed to adequately address the issue of immigration, particularly regarding illegal immigrants. Their inability to effectively manage this policy created frustration and anger among their voter base.
3. COVID-19 Response:
The initial policy of herd immunity under Boris Johnson’s government, which aimed to allow the virus to spread widely to build immunity, resulted in a significant number of deaths. The delayed decision to impose a lockdown further exacerbated public anger.
4. NHS Decline:
The National Health Service (NHS) suffered greatly during the Conservative tenure. The pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic led to an emergency situation in hospitals, disrupting care for cancer, diabetes, kidney, and heart disease patients, many of whom had to seek treatment abroad due to a lack of available appointments within the NHS.
5. Economic Issues:
Over their 15 years in power, the Conservatives failed to address the growing economic concerns of the populace. The rising cost of living and declining income made it impossible for many to maintain their standard of living. The party was perceived as a government for the rich, with policies that did not benefit the average person. These issues led to the resignation of Prime Minister Liz Truss after just 49 days in office following a controversial finance bill. Despite Rishi Sunak’s efforts to stabilize the situation, his perceived detachment from the concerns of ordinary citizens, due to his wealthy background, further alienated voters.
6. Discontent Among Muslim Voters:
While the Conservative government actively supported Ukraine against Russia with arms and ammunition, they remained silent on the Palestinian issue, where over 38,000 Palestinians suffered at the hands of Israeli aggression. This silence angered Muslim voters across more than hundred constituencies, leading them to shift their support to Labour and the Liberal Democrats.
The combination of these factors—economic hardship, political instability, mishandling of crises, and loss of public trust—led to the Conservative Party’s worst defeat in recent history and paved the way for Labour’s historic return to power.
