THE country will hold a national election on July 4 which opinion polls indicate will end 14 years of Tory-led government, spanning one of the most turbulent periods in the country's modern political history.
HOW DOES THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM WORK?
The country is split into 650 constituencies. In each constituency, voters elect a local candidate who will then take up a seat in parliament. Voters get to choose one candidate on their ballot paper and the candidate with the most votes wins.
Candidates typically represent a larger political party.
The winning line for any political party is 326 seats. The leader of the party which crosses that line would then be able to form a government and become prime minister.
WHO CAN VOTE?
Close to 50 million Britons will be eligible to vote. Polling stations open from 0700 to 2200 local time and votes can be cast in person, by post or through a proxy.
WHEN WILL RESULTS BE ANNOUNCED?
Constituencies start counting votes as soon as the polls close and the first results come within hours. Most are declared overnight, although in some rural areas this takes longer, particularly if the vote is close and recounts are required.
Exit polls are released by broadcasters when polls close.
WHAT HAPPENS IF NO PARTY SECURES A MAJORITY?
A hung parliament occurs when no single party manages to win more than 325 seats. In this case the incumbent prime minister stays in power and is given the first chance to form a government by negotiating with other parties to build a coalition, or try and govern with a minority.
If he or she fails to agree an arrangement that would give them a majority in parliament, the incumbent would then recommend that the leader of the largest opposition party be invited to form the new government.
Coalition governments are uncommon in Britain. The 2010 Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government was the first since 1945. After a hung parliament in the 2017 election the Tories cut a deal with a smaller party to form a minority government.
ROLE OF THE KING
In the case of a government losing, the incumbent prime minister travels to see the monarch to formally tender his or her resignation once arrangements for a new government have been decided.
The incoming prime minister then arrives to meet the sovereign who requests they form a government, a meeting historically known as "kissing hands", although prime ministers are no longer expected to kiss the monarch's hands.
WHAT IS EXPECTED TO HAPPEN?
YouGov predicted in April that Labour would win 403 seats, with Tories expected to win 155.
Opinion polls, which measure the overall share of the vote each party is expected to win, consistently show Labour more than 20 points ahead of the Conservatives.
At the 2019 election the Tories won 365 seats and Labour won 202. Since then, resignations, expulsions and other events have reduced the Tory majority. Going into the 2024 election the Tories have 344 seats, Labour have 205.
(Reuters)
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)