UK election is nearing its end - here's what you need to know

Authored by James FitzGerald, a reporter from BBC News based in London.

Many people all over the UK are preparing to cast their votes in the upcoming general election on Thursday. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is fighting to prevent opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer from becoming the next resident of 10 Downing Street.

Mr. Sunak's Conservative Party and Sir Keir's Labour Party have been working hard in the last days of the campaign to emphasize their main points in order to attract undecided voters.

With numerous polls showing Labour in the lead, the Conservatives are cautioning voters about giving their opponents a big advantage. One government official even admits that they are preparing for a possible landslide. In addition, they are also concerned about the rising popularity of the right-wing Reform UK party, especially with Nigel Farage back in the political spotlight.

However, despite experiencing four consecutive losses in elections and spending 14 years out of power, Sir Keir's party is not becoming complacent.

Even though topics like quality of life, healthcare, and migration have been the main focus of discussions at the national level, minor political parties like the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party of England and Wales have also highlighted their own important issues.

Here is all the information you need to know as the nation prepares to vote, with a total of 650 seats in the House of Commons being contested.

Starmer Pledges Reform, Sunak Commits Tax Cuts

Aware that it has not been victorious in a nationwide vote since 2005 – and that its performance in 2019 with ex-leader Jeremy Corbyn was the poorest in almost a hundred years – the Labour party under Sir Keir has made efforts to demonstrate to the public that it has evolved.

Sir Keir has stated that the main focus of his government would be to strengthen the economy in order to enhance the quality of life for the public.

In the last few years, families in the UK have been struggling with rising prices and paying more in taxes than ever before. The Conservatives argue that this is not their fault, pointing to factors like the global inflation and ongoing conflicts like the pandemic and the situation in Ukraine. They also warn that things could get even worse under a Labour government.

One of the most talked-about ideas from the Labour party for raising funds is to introduce a value-added tax (VAT) on private schools.

Mr. Sunak, who started his position in October 2022, has suggested reducing taxes for people who work for themselves and bringing back a period where young individuals are required to serve in the military or other public service roles.

Similar to the Labour party, he is pledging to increase the number of people owning homes.

Mr. Sunak is restating his goal of sending certain asylum seekers to Rwanda to reduce illegal migration. This plan has faced numerous legal challenges over the years, but was finally approved by Parliament in April.

Immigration Takes Center Stage, Brexit Missing

This is Nigel Farage's eighth try to win a seat in Westminster

The Reform UK party focuses on immigration in its key promises, stating it would halt unnecessary migration. Despite having only one Member of Parliament, the party is consistently ranking third in polls.

Reform is a new political party that formed after the Brexit Party, which strongly supported a complete exit of the UK from the European Union. Even though Brexit was a significant issue in the past, it has not been a prominent focus in the current election campaign.

The Liberal Democrats have promised to undo part of Brexit by re-entering the European single market. While recovering from a significant defeat in the 2015 election, the party is also committing to investing heavily in social care.

In the meantime, the Green Party of England and Wales, which only has one Member of Parliament, is advocating for new taxes on the rich and aiming to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040.

Campaign Riddled With Gaffes And Scandals

Sir Keir and his team have not just criticized their opponents' past performance in government – including a chaotic time in 2022 when the UK went through three prime ministers in a short span of time. They've also spoken out against the leadership culture within the Conservative Party, bringing attention to a recent supposed betting scandal.

Mr Sunak's key messages were disrupted during the campaign when he had to say sorry for leaving an event in France early. The event was to honor the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings during World War Two.

However, the Conservative Party has successfully criticized Reform, whose candidates have found themselves embroiled in their own controversies. Nigel Farage, the new leader of Reform, faced backlash after making controversial comments about the war in Ukraine, stating that the West may have played a role in provoking it. This is his eighth attempt to win a seat in Westminster.

The Labour party has faced its own problems before the election, including a disagreement over whether to choose long-time leftist Diane Abbott as a candidate.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey felt the need to make it clear that he takes voters' worries very seriously. This comes after a series of public displays, such as jumping into a lake, which he explained were meant to highlight his party's policies.

Sir Ed Davey's dive into a lake has become one of the standout moments of the campaign.

Parties Need Support Worldwide

Labour leader Sir Keir and his fellow party members are aiming for a good performance in Scotland, where surveys indicate that the SNP could potentially lose seats in Westminster after many years of being in power. The SNP has been facing difficulties lately due to an investigation by the police into its financial matters.

The new head, John Swinney, chosen in May, has promised to continue advocating for Scotland's needs. He plans to increase the push for another referendum on independence from the UK and undo the negative effects of Brexit.

Plaid Cymru, the nationalist party of Wales, hopes to expand its presence in Westminster beyond its current three MPs. Their platform promotes Welsh independence as a way to achieve true equality and drive ambition in the country.

In Northern Ireland, the election is centered around the debate between those who support remaining part of the United Kingdom (unionists) and those who support becoming part of the Republic of Ireland (nationalists).

Political parties in Northern Ireland usually do not have a significant impact on the politics of Westminster. The primary nationalist party, Sinn Féin, has long held the stance of abstaining from taking any seats in the British Parliament that they are elected to.

However, the DUP's support of a past Conservative government shows that Northern Irish parties can play a significant part in close votes.