Winning a historic victory in the United Kingdom general elections, the Labour Party has marked a significant change in the political landscape. Following the elections, Keir Starmer took office as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The Labour Party’s promises include increasing investments in public services, strengthening border security, and recognizing Palestine. These election results will have widespread implications not only in domestic politics but also in the United Kingdom’s international relations.
News – Analysis
By Arda AKGÜL
UK Elections
The United Kingdom general elections are a cornerstone of the country’s democratic process, held to elect Members of Parliament (MPs) to the House of Commons, the lower house of Parliament. These elections are typically held every five years unless an earlier election is called due to extraordinary political events, such as a vote of no confidence in the government. The most recent election marked a significant shift in the political landscape, with the Labour Party achieving a decisive victory.
The electoral process in the UK follows a “first-past-the-post” system, where the candidate with the most votes in each of the 650 constituencies wins a seat in Parliament. There is no need to win 50% of the vote, and votes for other candidates are not counted towards the final result. This system usually results in a majority government, giving the winning party the mandate to effectively implement its policies. The House of Commons also elects the prime minister. According to custom, the monarch invites the leader of the largest party to form the government. In the last election, Labour capitalized on widespread dissatisfaction with the Conservative government by presenting a vision for change to a broad electorate.
Election Results
The election results were a significant win for the Labour Party. They gained a majority of seats in the House of Commons, taking power from the Conservative Party. According to The Guardian, Labour won 412 seats, an increase of 214 seats, while the Conservatives won 121 seats, a decrease of 252 seats. The Liberal Democrats won 71 seats, an increase of 63 seats, and other smaller parties and independents shared the remaining 45 seats. This result gave Labour a strong majority, as they needed 326 seats to have a majority, allowing them to advance their legislative agenda without the need for coalition partners. Consequently, Labour won the election, and Keir Starmer became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom after King Charles III gave Starmer permission to form a government. This also led to Rishi Sunak resigning from his position as Prime Minister and Conservative leader.
Economic issues, controversial plans to stop the refugee influx such as the Rwanda plan, the policies implemented during the pandemic, and the inefficiency of the National Health Service were among the factors that contributed to the Conservatives being ousted from power.
What Has Changed
New PM Starmer stated as his party took power after more than a decade in opposition, “When the gap between the sacrifices made by people and the service they receive from politicians grows this big, it leads to a weariness in the heart of a nation, a draining away of the hope, the spirit, the belief in a better future. But we need to move forward together. Now this wound, this lack of trust can only be healed by actions, not words. I know that.”
The Labour Party’s victory has led to changes in the UK’s political and social landscape. One of the immediate impacts has been a shift in government priorities, reflecting Labour’s emphasis on a more equitable distribution of resources and increased investment in public services. Labour plans to create 630,000 jobs by 2030 and will establish a publicly owned, market-balancing energy company called “Great British Energy” that emphasizes clean energy and aims to reduce dependency on Russia for energy.
Promises That Interest Other Countries
The Labour Party’s promises extend beyond domestic issues and have significant implications for other countries. Three key areas of interest are border security, the recognition of Palestine, Brexit, and the relationship with Turkey.
Border Security Command
“Labour will stop the migration problem and go after the criminal gangs who drive this crisis. We will create a new Border Security Command, with hundreds of new investigators, intelligence officers, and cross-border police officers. This will be funded by ending the Migration and Economic Development partnership with Rwanda,” Labour stated in their party manifesto.
They will also work with international partners to address humanitarian crises that cause people to flee their homes and strengthen support for refugees in their home regions. Labour has pledged to establish a Border Security Command to improve the UK’s border security and manage migration more effectively. This initiative aims to address concerns about illegal immigration. The Border Security Command will coordinate efforts between various agencies and utilize advanced technology to monitor and secure the UK’s borders.
The establishment of the Border Security Command will also have implications for other countries, particularly those with significant migration flows to the UK. A more stringent approach to border management could affect bilateral relations and cooperation on migration issues.
Recognition of Palestine
As Labour stated in their manifesto, “Long-term peace and security in the Middle East will be an urgent focus. Labour will continue to press for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, the application of international law, and a rapid increase in aid to Gaza. A Palestinian state is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people. It is essential to Israel’s long-term security. We are committed to recognizing a Palestinian state as a contribution to a renewed peace process leading to a viable and sovereign Palestinian state, as well as a safe and secure Israel and a two-state solution.”
One of the most important foreign policy promises made by the Labour Party is the formal recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state. This move aims to support a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and promote peace in the region. It could improve the UK’s relations with Middle Eastern countries and strengthen its role as a mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, it could also strain relations with Israel and its allies.
Brexit
The party affirms that the UK will remain outside the European Union and emphasizes the need to make Brexit work and seize the opportunities on the horizon. Labour seeks to reset the UK’s relationship with the European Union by deepening ties with European friends, neighbors, and allies. The party emphasizes that this approach does not mean reopening past divisions such as the single market. Labour is committed to improving the UK’s trade and investment relationship with the European Union. The party plans to make economic interactions smoother by removing unnecessary barriers to trade. There will also be new bilateral agreements with EU member states to work more closely with Joint Expeditionary Force partners, strengthen NATO, and ensure the UK’s security.
Relationships with Turkey
As NATO allies, Turkey and the UK have deepened their cooperation in areas such as the defense industry, security, and trade. In this context, the new government is expected to maintain the special and strategic relationship with Turkey, especially after the UK’s exit from the EU.
On March 4, Labour Party Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign David Lammy met with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and pointed out that countries such as Turkey, Iran, Indonesia, and South Africa have become more influential in their regions as the global leadership of the US has declined (Lammy, 2023). Although the Labour Party has not made a clear statement on relations with Turkey, it is expected that relations between Turkey and the United Kingdom will be based on a strategic partnership.
Geopolitical developments indicate that Ankara-London traffic will continue to be intense in the coming period. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, the possible Israel-Lebanon conflict, and other developments in the region will continue to be on the agenda of the two capitals.
Result
The general elections of the United Kingdom belong to that vital category of democratic processes where Members of Parliament are elected for the House of Commons. The last election had significant political implications as the Labour Party scored an outstanding victory over the Conservative Party, which had ruled for over a decade. The Labour Party won 412 seats, the Conservatives 121, the Liberal Democrats 71, and other parties and independents 45 seats.
Keir Starmer became Prime Minister after King Charles III gave him permission to form a government. This election result was driven more by economic issues, poor pandemic policies, and the National Health Service’s inefficiency under Conservative leadership than by any other factors.
Labour’s win will also mean that the government will prioritize employment, significant investments in public services, and international relations. Another project by Labour will be establishing a clean energy company, Great British Energy. The promises of Labour will have significant international consequences not only in the field of border safety and the recognition of Palestine but also in their connections with other countries. They will establish a Border Security Command to manage migration, recognize Palestine as a state regarding a two-state solution, reset the relationship of the UK with the EU, and preserve strategic relations with Turkey and NATO.
Photo: Labour Leader Keir Starmer celebrates winning the 2024 UK General Election. Picture: Ricky Vigil/Getty Images
