Economic and Political Overview

Political Outline

Current Political Leaders

Re: Carlo III (dall'8 settembre 2022). Predecessore: Regina Elisabetta II.
Primo ministro: Sir Keir Starmer (dal 5 luglio 2024), Partito Laburista.

Next Election Dates

General elections (House of Commons): July 2029

Current Political Context

The July 2024 general elections saw the first victory for Labour since 2005 and ended the Conservatives' 14-year tenure as the primary governing party. Labour achieved a 174-seat simple majority and a total of 411 seats. Labour won 211 more seats than the previous general election in 2019, but half a million fewer total votes. The Conservative Party was reduced to 121 seats on a vote share of 23.7%, the worst result in its history, losing 251 seats in total. Smaller parties took a record 42.6% of the vote in the election. Of these, the Liberal Democrats made the most significant gains, securing 72 seats.
 The five main goals of Keir Starmer's government agenda are to boost economic growth, achieve net-zero electricity by 2030, revitalize the NHS, enhance public safety, and increase opportunities for everyone. Plans call for investing in AI innovation, accelerating infrastructure projects, and constructing 1.5 million houses close to transportation hubs. Furthermore, the Labour government is expected to take a closer stance with the European Union (EU) than the previous government, even if Kier Starmer has made it clear “about not rejoining the EU, the single market or the customs union or a return to freedom of movement”.

Main Political Parties

Historically, the three dominant parties are:
- Labour Party: left-wing socialist and social democratic, grew out of trade union movement in the 19th century;
- Conservative Party: centre-right; believes in free-market economy, strong military and traditional cultural values;
- Liberal Democrats: centrist, moderate pro-European;

Other parties represented in the parliament include:
- Scottish National Party (SNP): centre-left;
- Democratic Unionist Party: right-wing;
- Reform UK (Brexit Party): right-wing, Eurosceptic;
- Green Party of England and Wales (GPEW - Greens): environmentalist;
- Plaid Cymru – the Party of Wales: centre-left to left-wing, Welsh nationalism;
- Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP): advocates Irish reunification;
- Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (APNI): liberal, centrist.

Executive Power

The King is the head of state. But above all he plays a symbolic and representational role. He continues to exercise three essential rights: the right to be consulted, to advise and to warn. Following legislative elections to the lower house of parliament, the leader of the majority party or coalition is usually appointed Prime Minister by the King and remains in office as long as he/she retains the confidence of the House of Commons. The Prime Minister is the head of government and has all executive powers, which include law enforcement and the conduct of the day-to-day affairs of the country. The Prime Minister selects members of the Cabinet and other ministers, who are then formally appointed by the monarch.

Legislative Power

The United Kingdom has a bicameral legislative system. The parliament consists of the House of Lords (the upper house) and the House of Commons (the lower house). The House of Lords includes life peers, who are appointed by the King on the advice of the Prime Minister and the House of Lords Appointments Commission, 92 hereditary peers, and 26 members of the clergy (Lords Spiritual). The House of Commons has 650 seats, and its members are elected by universal suffrage, generally for a 5-year term. The government is directly responsible to and dependent on parliament.

Indicator of Freedom of the Press

World Rank:

33/180

Indicator of Political Freedom

Ranking:

Free

Political Freedom:

1/7

Political freedom in the world (interactive map)
Source: Freedom in the World Report, Freedom House