Election Tracker
Archive Search
United Kingdom
At stake: House of Commons
Background
(Angus Reid Global Scan) - The United Kingdom of Great Britain encompasses England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Britain was one of only three European Union (EU) member nations—along with Denmark and Sweden—that did not adopt the Euro as the national currency in 2002.
From 1979 to 1997, the Conservative party administered the government under prime ministers Margaret Thatcher and John Major. The early years of the Thatcher government saw the privatization of several state-run enterprises, rising unemployment rates and a war with Argentina over the Falkland Islands. The Conservatives easily won the election of 1983, and achieved a reduced majority in 1987.
In 1990, Thatcher resigned after failing to defeat Major's leadership challenge. Major would win a fresh term in the 1992 election. In 1996, the country's beef industry almost collapsed after the government acknowledged that Mad Cow disease could be transmitted to humans.
In the May 1997 election, Tony Blair became prime minister after leading the Labour party to victory. During Blair's first term, plebiscites in Scotland and Wales allowed for the creation of separate legislative assemblies. Blair would earn a second term in the June 2001 election.
Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, United States president George W. Bush declared in an address to Congress, "America has no truer friend than Great Britain." British soldiers participated in the war on terrorism, initiated in October 2001 after Afghanistan's Taliban regime refused to hand over al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, prime suspect in the attacks.
In late 2002, Blair was one of Bush's closest allies in demanding full disclosure of Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction program. A coalition encompassing troops from the U.S., Britain and 39 other countries invaded Iraq in March 2003. Britain originally committed 8,700 soldiers to the U.S.-led military effort.
Following the end of major military operations in May, no evidence of weapons of mass destruction was found. Blair faced criticism for allegedly overstating intelligence reports to make the case for war more plausible. The suicide of former weapons inspector David Kelly—cited as the source for a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) report on hyped intelligence—further affected the prime minister's image. In January 2004, an official investigation cleared Blair of any wrongdoing, and chided the BBC for its "unfounded" story.
In October 2004, the Iraq Survey Group concluded that Saddam Hussein's regime did not possess weapons of mass destruction. Blair accepted that pre-war intelligence may have been flawed, but stood by the decision to launch military action, citing Hussein's poor human rights record.
2005 House of Commons Election
On Apr. 5, prime minister Tony Blair asked Queen Elizabeth II to dissolve Parliament and called a general election for May 5, more than one year ahead of schedule. Blair will seek a third mandate as leader of the Labour party.
Labour was briefly affected by the resignation of home secretary David Blunkett on Dec. 15, 2004. Blunkett quit over allegations that he used his influence to expedite a visa application for married American Kimberly Quinn's nanny.
Current chancellor of the exchequer Gordon Brown is regarded as Labour's leader-in-waiting. In January, Blair steered clear of any controversy over Brown's future in the cabinet, saying, "I'm not getting into the business of what happens after elections and reshuffles and all the rest of it."
On Feb. 9, the Labour government announced a $250 billion U.S. investment in the National Health Service (NHS). The strategy increases the average funding per person from $1,685 U.S. in 2002, to $2,579 U.S. in 2008. Health secretary John Reid vowed to ensure "that the most deprived areas, where there are appalling inequalities in life expectancy and concentrated problems of disease such as lung cancer or heart disease, receive extra investment."
On Mar. 16, Brown delivered this year's budget to the House of Commons. Brown defined the document—which includes tax relief for home buyers and retired pensioners—as a balance between "tax cuts that are affordable, investments that are essential and stability that is paramount."
Michael Howard became the leader of the Conservative Party in November 2003, substituting Iain Duncan Smith. Howard served as interior minister under John Major in the early 1990s. The Conservative electoral platform includes a $7.2 billion U.S. tax cut, which would be implemented after a reduction in government spending.
In January, former Conservative minister Robert Jackson defected to the Labour party, saying a victory for the Howard led Tories would mean "certain harm" for Britain.
In February, Howard criticized the current state of the NHS in the House of Commons, pointing out the case of Margaret Dixon—a woman whose shoulder surgery was cancelled seven times. The Tories have proposed paying up to half of the total cost of a regular NHS operation to those who are forced to seek private care.
Charles Kennedy has headed the Liberal Democrats since August 1999. The party's platform—which according to Kennedy represents the "authentic opposition" to Labour—contemplates scrapping tuition fees, a 50 per cent tax for every person with a yearly income higher than $187,000 U.S. or higher and a plan to introduce reforms to the electoral code that would end the first-past-the-post system.
Voting Intention - Campaign Begins
(Surveys conducted from Apr. 1 to Apr. 5, 2005)
Labour | 37% | 34% | 36% | 37% | 36% |
Conservative | 34% | 39% | 33% | 35% | 36% |
Liberal Democrats | 21% | 21% | 21% | 19% | 21% |
Other | 8% | 6% | 10% | 9% | 7% |
On Apr. 5, shortly after the Queen granted the prime minister's request, Tony Blair said the country faces "a big choice and there's a lot at stake. The British people are the boss and they are the ones who will make it."
Chancellor of the exchequer Gordon Brown declared that a third term for the governing party would be beneficial for businesses, saying, "Despite higher world oil prices and despite the lower growth of European economies, the British economy will continue to grow at a faster rate over the course of this year than the rest of the European Union."
Conservative leader Howard launched his party's campaign in London, saying voters "can either reward Mr. Blair for eight years of broken promises and vote for another five years of talk. Or they can vote Conservative, to support a party that's taken a stand and is committed to action on the issues that matter to hard working Britons."
Liberal Democrat Kennedy said his party would make "great strides into urban Britain where we are clearly the alternative to Labour." Kennedy said his platform would "address people's hopes, not play on their fears. We're going to be the positive force for good in this general election."
On Apr. 6 in the House of Commons, Blair said the Conservatives offer the "same crew (voters) rejected in 1997." Blair added, "Economic stability is at risk, your job is at risk, your mortgage is at risk, the economy is at risk and therefore when you make that choice on May 5, realize the fundamental nature of it."
Howard said Blair's government was to blame for "a voting system which has been reduced to that of a banana republic, and pensioners are reduced to pulling their own teeth out."
On Apr. 11 in London, Howard launched the Conservative manifesto, which pledges $7.5 billion U.S. in tax cuts. The opposition leader urged citizens not to vote for "five more years of failure." Blair referred to the Tory proposals as "an economic mess." Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy vowed to provide 21,000 extra primary school teachers nationwide, saying, "The more time a teacher can spend with a child, the better the chances for that child."
On Apr. 12, Blair criticized the Tory platform, saying, "It simply doesn't stack up. If you elect an economic plan that's a big mess, you elect an economic risk." In a radio interview, Howard chided the government's current fiscal regulations, saying, "Labour has imposed huge extra burdens on local authorities without giving them the money from the taxpayer to pay for those burdens."
On Apr. 13, Blair and Brown launched Labour's election manifesto, which includes the introduction of a points system for immigration and a pledge to refuse any income tax increases. Blair said the document aims to maintain a "modern, progressive New Labour party (...) that the British people can support with confidence." Conservative leader Howard dismissed the document, saying, "(Blair's) promises not to raise taxes aren't worth the paper they're written on."
On Apr. 14, Blair criticized the Tory economic proposals, saying, "It is a sign of the complete transformation of British politics: that (Labour) can claim to be the party of economy, and (the Conservatives) are the threat." Howard said the recent arrest of alleged al-Qaeda operative Kamel Bourgass "underlines the chaos in our asylum system."
On Apr. 15, Howard said Blair should be "thoroughly ashamed" after allegations of problems with postal votes surfaced. The number of applications for absentee ballots has grown dramatically in some areas. Howard declared, "People will remember the fun we had talking about hanging chads in Florida. No one ever thought our electoral system would become suspect." Kennedy proclaimed the Liberal Democrats as "the only choice" on the environment, saying, "I wrote to Tony Blair and Michael Howard urging them to sign up to a statement of both principle and action on the environment. I received no reply from either of them."
On Apr. 17, Howard outlined plans for tax relief aimed at aiding the pension system, saying, "If you save, we will boost your savings. If you help yourself, we will help you." The measure would allow close to 10 million people to place their money into personal or company schemes. Health secretary Reid said the Tories were "not serious about fighting terrorism," adding, "We will bring in ID cards if there is a Labour government re-elected as a matter of priority."
On Apr. 18, Blair pledged to expedite cancer diagnoses through the NHS, saying quickness "would make a difference to thousands of patients." The governing party has also vowed to reduce the maximum waiting time for an operation from 18 months in 1997, to 18 weeks during the next four years. Kennedy vowed to place an extra 10,000 law enforcement officers in the streets, saying, "Seeing a police or community support officer on patrol provides positive reassurance and an effective deterrent to would-be criminals."
On Apr. 19, Blair pledged to ban unhealthy foods from school cafeterias and encourage sports activities, saying, "What children eat, the diet and exercise they take, makes a big difference not just to their health but to their behaviour." Howard launched his party's proposals to tackle crime. The plan envisions cancelling "all you can drink" promotions all over Britain, and allowing local communities to play a larger role in licensing decisions.
On Apr. 20 during a television interview, Blair defended the rationale for joining the coalition effort in Iraq, saying, "If you want me to apologize for the war in Iraq, I'm afraid I cannot say that I'm sorry we removed Saddam Hussein." The Labour party leader added, "I had to take the decision as prime minister that I thought was right for the country and I did so."
On Apr. 21, Blair said Britons wanted a "visible uniformed presence—it may not always cut crime but it will certainly help cut the fear of crime." Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Mark Oaten criticized Labour's promises, saying, "(They) ring hollow in the light of the latest violent crime figures."
On Apr. 22, Blair criticized the stance of Tory politicians on asylum and immigration, saying, "It is an attempt deliberately to exploit people's fears, to suggest that for reasons of political correctness, those in power don't dare deal with the issue." Conservative leader Howard defended his party's policies on immigration, saying, "We can get the right number of people coming into this country with skills, which we need, as economic migrants. We haven't got a number yet—Parliament will set the limit."
On Apr. 24, Howard accused Blair of distorting facts, saying, "He's told lies to win elections. On the one thing that he's taken a stand, in the eight years that he's been prime minister, which was taking us to war, he didn't even tell the truth about that." Chancellor of the exchequer Gordon Brown outlined Labour's plan to cancel the debt from poor countries, saying, "It is wrong that the burden of debts of the past should prevent the poorest people of the world from building for the future."
On Apr. 25, Blair once again defended his decision to launch military action against Hussein's regime in 2003, saying, "I know there is a disagreement over Iraq. That disagreement we will never resolve, but I know that it's right to look to the future now." Liberal Democrat leader Kennedy had urged the electorate to "view this general election as a referendum on (Blair's) conduct" on Iraq.
Howard presented his party's manifesto for businesses, which includes specific measures to alleviate red tape, simplify the British tax system and reduce business-related crime. Howard directly criticized Brown, saying, "He's actually making Britain's economy more and more like those of continental Europe. Europe should be a market for British business, not an economic model."
On Apr. 26, the Conservatives released a new campaign poster which features Blair under the slogan: "If he's prepared to lie to take us to war, he's prepared to lie to win an election." Blair said the Tory strategy was "devious" and "underhand," adding, "Every time you insult me and our cause I'm going to talk about the issues that really affect the future of this country."
On Apr. 27, Brown publicly endorsed the government's rationale for war in Iraq, saying, "It was a team decision, a collective decision. The central issue was should you allow Saddam Hussein to continue to ignore for year after year the decisions of the international community. The war was right."
On Apr. 28, the prime minister's office published a complete set of legal advice provided by attorney general Lord Goldsmith before the war in Iraq began, after a partial transcript was released by some media outlets. In the document, Goldsmith recommended achieving a second United Nations (UN) resolution as the safest legal course before launching military action.
Blair said the condemnation over an alleged "smoking gun" of leaks had become a "damp squib." Conservative leader Howard chided Blair, saying, "The issue of Iraq boils down to one very simple question at the root of it all—if you can't trust Mr. Blair on the decision to go to war, how can you trust Mr. Blair on anything else ever again?" Liberal Democrat Kennedy criticized the prime minister and the Conservatives equally, saying, "They must not be allowed to distract attention from their own uncritical support for the war."
On Apr. 29, Blair urged voters to support the Labour party, saying, "I pose one simple question: faced with a choice over what we have delivered and a Conservative party that would go back to 1997 and carry on where they left off, tell me, is this country not better, fairer, stronger?" Howard defended his party's immigration proposals, saying, "We will create a fairer, more humane asylum system by breaking the link between coming to Britain and claiming asylum—a link which keeps the inhumane trade in people smuggling alive."
On Apr. 30, Conservative party co-chairman Liam Fox urged for changes in existing electoral regulations on postal voting, saying, "If the laws are not tightened, Britain risks a Florida-style deadlock that could derail any tightly-fought election." On the same day, South Staffordshire Liberal Democrat candidate Jo Harrison died. No vote will take place in that particular constituency. The seat will be decided in a by-election to be held at a later date.
On May 1, Blair dismissed the recent focus of opposition parties on Iraq, claiming the Tories and Liberal Democrats have "nothing serious to say" about other issues. Blair defended the rationale for military conflict again, saying, "We do say sorry for all those people who have died, but I cannot apologize for taking the country to war." Howard defended his assertion that the prime minister had lied to the country on the Iraq issue, saying, "Whatever the consequences, you can't maintain a position which says that it's legitimate to trick the cabinet and to deceive the House of Commons." Kennedy also criticized Blair, saying, "Unless he comes clean, this issue will continue to dog him. Iraq will haunt his premiership and his legacy." Kennedy added that he expected the election to be "an important staging post in our upward progress as a party."
On May 2, Blair urged voters not to support the Liberal Democrats, saying the opposition party "may be closer to us in values but they are incapable of facing up to the means required to meet the ends." Kennedy characterized the prime minister's plea as "utter rubbish," adding, "Our democratic system is in crisis as a result of (Blair's) style of government." Howard presented the Conservative party's key priorities, saying, "People have had enough of spin and smirk—they just want someone who'll make things work." The plan outlines target dates for increasing border surveillance and scrapping university tuition fees. Chancellor Brown asked voters "not to let Michael Howard in by the front door, the back door, the side door or any door."
On May 3, Blair commended the effort of the country's troops in Iraq, saying, "British soldiers have done an extraordinary job in Iraq helping that country become a stable democracy." Howard dismissed the results of recent voting intention surveys, saying, "It's not the polls or the pollsters that are going to decide this election—it's real people out there. Real people who are still weighing up what's best for them, what's best for the country."
On May 4, Blair defended his record as prime minister, saying, "I think if you were to ask the question: 'Who do people trust with the economy, with the investment in our public services, with the interests of the country?', then I think we can make a pretty good case for ourselves." Howard expressed hope that his party would be able to oust a "failing and discredited" administration. Kennedy accused the head of government of "crying wolf too many times" saying, "If you want to take a stand, vote Liberal Democrat. The Liberal Democrats have been positive and set out real solutions to the problems people face."
Voting Intention - Campaign Ends
(Surveys conducted from Apr. 27 to May 5, 2005)
Labour | 39% | 39% | 39% | 41% | 36% |
Conservative | 31% | 29% | 31% | 27% | 32% |
Liberal Democrats | 22% | 22% | 23% | 23% | 25% |
Other | 8% | 10% | 6% | 9% | 7% |
A coalition that includes the National Union of Students and the Electoral Reform Society requested Britain's three main political parties to allow younger people to participate in elections. Last year, Britain's Electoral Commission rejected a petition to lower the voting age. The Liberal Democrats have vowed to allow Britons over the age of 16 to cast ballots.
Voting took place on May 5. Polls released on election day suggested a majority for the governing Labour party. Prime minister Tony Blair voted in the Sedgefield constituency, Michael Howard cast his ballot in Hythe, and Charles Kennedy exercised his right in Fort William.
Official results gave Labour a third consecutive victory—albeit with a lower number of parliamentarians—with 356 seats, followed by the Tories with 197 and the Liberal Democrats with 62. Blair acknowledged the result, saying, "It seems clear that the British people wanted the return of a Labour government but with a reduced majority."
Howard vowed to stand down as leader of the Conservatives, saying, "I'm 63 years old. At the time of the next election in four or five years' time I'll be 67 or 68 and I believe that's simply too old to lead a party into government." Kennedy celebrated the improvement for the Liberal Democrats, saying, "The government cannot ride rough-shod over people's instincts, people's inspirations and people's views and we will have a major role to play in that."
On May 6, Blair presented his new cabinet. David Blunkett was appointed as the new work and pensions secretary.
On May 8, David Trimble quit as head of Northern Ireland's Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) after losing his House of Commons seat in the election to David Simpson of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). The DUP—led by Ian Paisley—won nine of the 18 seats up for grabs in Northern Ireland.
Blair is set to begin his third consecutive mandate—a first for the Labour party. Still, the political organization will form a government with the lowest share of the total national vote in British history.
On May 17, Labour unveiled its key policies for the new mandate in the Queen's Speech. At least 44 bills will be introduced for debate before November 2006, including a proposal for identification cards and tougher legislation against religious hatred.
Blair defined his government's program as "economic prosperity combined with social justice." Howard vowed to support specific measures, saying, "All we have had so far is more fizzy rhetoric. What matters now is delivery." Kennedy promised to fight "Labour politicians reconfirmed on such a marginal mandate introducing illiberal measures."
Political Players
Queen: Elizabeth II
Prime minister: Tony Blair - Lab.
Legislative Branch: The Parliament has two chambers. The House of Commons has 659 members, elected to five-year terms in single-seat constituencies. The House of Lords has 675 non-elected members; 557 life peers and 118 hereditary members.
Results of Last Election:
House of Commons - May 5, 2005
(Official results with 645 of 646 constituencies reporting)
Vote% | Seats | |
Labour Party (Lab.) | 35.2% | 356 |
Conservative Party (Con.) | 32.3% | 197 |
Liberal Democrats (Lib-Dem) | 22.0% | 62 |
United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) | 2.3% | -- |
Scottish National Party (SNP) | 1.5% | 6 |
Green Party of England and Wales (Gr) | 1.0% | -- |
Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) | 0.9% | 9 |
British National Party (BNP) | 0.7% | -- |
Plaid Cymru - Party of Wales (PC) | 0.6% | 3 |
Sinn Fein (We Ourselves) | 0.6% | 5 |
Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) | 0.5% | 3 |
Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) | 0.5% | 1 |
Respect Party (RP) | 0.3% | 1 |
Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) | 0.2% | -- |
Independent Kidderminster Hospital | 0.1% | 1 |
Veritas Party (VP) | 0.1% | -- |
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (APNI) | 0.1% | -- |
Scottish Green Party (SGP) | 0.1% | -- |
Liberal Party (Lib.) | 0.1% | -- |
Independents | -- | 1 |
