Einar H. Dyvik
Research expert covering Nordics and global data for society, economy, and politics
UK Politics - Statistics & Facts
In July 2024, the center-left Labour Party won the most seats in the UK general election, their first general election victory since 2005, ending 14 years of rule from the center-right Conservative Party. Since taking office, however the popularity of the Labour Party has plummeted, with the government's approval rating approaching that of the previous government, while the populist right-wing Reform UK party has overtaken Labour in some polls in early 2025. The reputation of the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has also taken a hit, and he was viewed as the least-popular political party leader as of January 2025.
Labour's difficult start
The new government's struggles since taking office are partly down to unpopular policies, especially the decision to withdraw a winter fuel allowance for some pensioners in England and Wales. A damaging controversy regarding gifts and donations to the party also hurt Labour during this time, along with the resignation of Starmer's chief of staff. From the perspective of the government, decisions such as withdrawing winter fuel, or the early release of some prisoners, due to capacity problems were tough but necessary choices given their inheritance from the Conservatives. Turning the country around is however, seen as a long-term project, that will ultimately depend on a strong economy. Reforms to the planning system are seen as crucial in this regard, as well as reducing levels of economic inactivity in the UK labor market, and dealing with quite high levels of government debt, which reached 100 percent of GDP in 2024.How UK elections work
While the United Kingdom is technically still a monarchy and also has an unelected upper-house in the form of the House of Lords, the true center of executive and legislative power lies in the House of Commons. The 650 Members of Parliament (MPs) that sit in the UK’s House of Commons represent 650 electoral areas called constituencies. Voters in the UK elect an MP for their constituency who will sit in parliament to stand for both local and national interests. Almost all MPs belong to political parties, the largest of which are the Conservative Party and the Labour Party, with the centrist Liberal Democrats traditionally being the UK's third main party. If one single party can win 326 or more seats in a general election, it will be able to form a government by virtue of having a simple majority in the House of Commons. The leader of the party who wins the most MPs usually goes on to become the Prime Minister, although these leaders must also win the constituency they represent, just like any other MP.
