Opinion polls indicate that the centre-left Labour Party is poised for a significant win in Thursday’s election, potentially ending the Conservative’s 14-year rule. If the polls are accurate, Starmer could move into the prime minister’s office at Number 10 Downing Street by Friday morning. YouGov’s final seat projection, published on Wednesday, suggests Labour could achieve a majority of 212 seats, the largest in modern history.
Both Starmer and Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spent the final day of campaigning warning of severe economic repercussions if the opposing party wins. Facing predictions of the worst results in their history, the Conservatives are now focused on retaining enough seats to form an effective opposition.
“I totally accept that where the polls are at the moment means that tomorrow is likely to see the largest Labour landslide majority, the largest majority that this country has ever seen,” Conservative minister Mel Stride told the BBC. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong opposition to scrutinize the Labour government.
In response to Stride’s comments, Sunak told ITV, “I’m fighting hard for every vote.”
In a surprising turn, Rupert Murdoch-owned tabloid The Sun endorsed Labour and Starmer, declaring, “It’s time for a change.” The editorial criticized the Conservatives for becoming a divided group more focused on internal conflicts than running the country effectively, breaking their streak of supporting the Conservatives in every election since 2010.
Labour’s final campaign efforts are aimed at ensuring voters don’t become complacent and stay home on election day, or cast protest votes for smaller parties. Starmer interpreted Stride’s comments as an attempt to demotivate voters.
“I say: if you want change, you have to vote for it. I want people to be part of a change. I know there are very close constituencies across the country,” Starmer told the BBC.
Starmer’s campaign has centered around the promise of ‘change,’ addressing public dissatisfaction with the state of public services and declining living standards. Sunak, meanwhile, has tried to convince voters that his tenure has set the economy on an upward path after the disruptions caused by COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine. He argues that Starmer’s policies will necessitate tax increases.
With Labour maintaining a significant lead in opinion polls, Sunak turned to former Prime Minister Boris Johnson for support. Johnson, who played a key role in the Conservative’s 2019 landslide victory, made his first major campaign appearance at a Conservative rally. However, his speech highlighted his own achievements rather than offering strong support for Sunak. “None of us can sit back as a Labour government prepares to use a sledgehammer majority to destroy so much of what we have achieved,” Johnson said.