-
UK General Election 2024
- The United Kingdom is witnessing a significant political transformation as the country held its General Election on July 4, 2024, marking a crucial moment in British politics.
- The election saw a intense contest between the ruling Conservative Party, led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and the opposition Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer, with other parties like the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK also vying for power.
- As the results unfold, the UK is poised to usher in a new era of governance, which may have far-reaching implications for the country’s domestic policies, international relations, and global standing, including its ties with India.
-
2 Replies
-
Keir Starmer’s Labour Party is on course for a historic victory in the U.K. general election, ending 14 years in the political wilderness and sending the ruling Conservatives crashing to their worst defeat in history.
What Labour’s win could mean for India-UK FTA?
-
Political Certainty: The Labour Party’s win could bring political certainty and stability to the India-UK FTA negotiations, which have been stalled due to elections in both countries.
-
Visas a Sticking Point: The UK’s Labour government is likely to negotiate hard on the visa issue, as it remains a contentious topic in British politics. India is seeking temporary visas for its service sector workforce under the FTA.
-
Tougher Negotiations on Climate: The Labour government may corner India on climate issues, as it has been critical of the Tories for deviating from the UK’s 2030 net-zero goals. India may face tougher negotiations on climate-related issues.
-
Strategic Partnership: Labour has pledged to seek a new strategic partnership with India, including an FTA, and deepening cooperation in areas like security, education, technology, and climate change.
-
Economic Growth: The FTA is expected to enhance the £38.1 billion bilateral trading partnership, leading to higher economic growth, better productivity, and increased private sector investment in the UK.
-
-
Why are elections in the UK are held on a Thursday?
- Elections in the United Kingdom are typically held on a Thursday for last 89 years, except for one time.
- However, no law mandates that elections should be held on Thursday.
- It’s believed that this day was chosen to avoid conflicting with market days, which were usually held on Fridays or Saturdays.
- In the past, Sundays were considered a day of rest, and it was deemed inappropriate to hold elections on a day meant for worship.
- Thursdays were seen as a more suitable day, allowing voters to cast their ballots without conflicting with religious observance.
- Holding elections on a Thursday allows most people to vote without disrupting their work or school schedules. It also gives voters the weekend to consider their choices before casting their ballots.
- Thursdays are often considered a quieter day for transportation and other services, making it easier to mobilize polling staff, equipment, and voters.
- The UK has maintained this tradition for so long that it’s become an established part of the country’s electoral culture.
While these reasons may not be as relevant today, the tradition of holding elections on a Thursday has been maintained, providing a sense of consistency and familiarity for voters in the UK.
Log in to reply.