Britain votes Thursday in a general election widely expected to hand the opposition Labour party a landslide win and end nearly a 14 years of Conservative rule.
The national ballot follows Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s surprise call to hold it six months earlier than required.
His gamble looks set to backfire spectacularly, with polls throughout the six-week campaign — and for the last two years — pointing to a heavy defeat for his right-wing party.
That would almost certainly put Labour leader Keir Starmer, 61, in Downing Street, as leader of the largest party in parliament.
Centre-left Labour is projected to win by historic proportions, with a flurry of election-eve polls all forecasting its biggest-ever victory.
‘People are not satisfied’
Voting began at 7:00 am (0600 GMT) in more than 40,000 polling stations across the country, from church halls, community centres and schools to more unusual venues such as pubs and even a ship.
Sunak was among the early birds, casting his ballot at his Richmond and Northallerton constituency in Yorkshire, northern England. Starmer voted around two hours later in his north London seat.
Voting closes at 10:00 pm (2100 GMT). Broadcasters then announce exit polls, which typically provide an accurate picture of how the main parties have performed.
Results from the UK’s 650 constituencies trickle in overnight, with the winning party expected to hit 326 seats — the threshold for a parliamentary majority — as dawn breaks Friday.
Polls suggest voters will punish the Tories after 14 years of often chaotic rule and could oust a string of government ministers, with talk that even Sunak himself might not be safe.
Endorsements
Sunak, 44, is widely seen as having run a dismal campaign, with anger over his decision to leave D-Day commemorations in France early the standout moment.
Read more
On Wednesday, The Sun newspaper switched allegiance to Labour — a key endorsement given the tabloid has backed the winner at every election for several decades.
It follows the Financial Times, the Economist and The Sunday Times also endorsing the party.
Meanwhile, three large-scale surveys indicated Labour was on the brink of a record victory, with the Tories set for their worst-ever result.
‘Decade of national renewal’
If the predictions are accurate, Sunak will on Friday visit head of state King Charles III to tender his resignation as prime minister.
Starmer will meet the monarch shortly after to take up his invitation to head the next government — and become prime minister.
The Labour leader will then travel to Downing Street where he would be expected to deliver a speech before making ministerial appointments.
Joe Jackson, with AFP
