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In the latest general election, the Labour Party achieved a significant victory, securing 411 out of 650 seats in the House of Commons. This sweeping win comes amid the nation’s weakening economy and escalating social issues, marking a notable shift to the left in the UK, particularly during a period of rising far-right movements across Europe.
“UK’s Economy is Weakening”
Prof. Dr. Hayri Kozanoğlu, an economist and faculty member at Altınbaş University, analyzed the primary reasons behind the election results, attributing them mainly to the UK’s economic challenges. “The UK’s weakening economy, diminishing consumer purchasing power, unfair income distribution, and high child poverty rates were the main factors influencing the election outcome,” Kozanoğlu stated, highlighting the country’s prolonged economic decline.
Prof. Dr. Kozanoğlu emphasized the UK’s economic vulnerability: “The UK, by market standards, is the world’s 6th largest economy by purchasing power parity and 9th largest overall, but it has been in a continuous state of relative decline. Fifty-six percent of shares in the London Stock Exchange are owned by foreigners. American companies generate $700 billion in annual sales in the UK, employing 1.5 million British workers.” He also pointed out the issues of rising housing prices and the diminishing homeownership dreams of the younger generation.
Highlighting the severity of child poverty, Kozanoğlu noted, “In the UK, 30% of children, or 4.2 million, live in poverty. There are 3.7 million families who cannot secure adequate nutrition or food security. The UK’s pride, the National Health Service (NHS), is also in decline. Co-payments and long waiting lists are burdening citizens.”
Kozanoğlu attributed Labour’s success to the first-past-the-post electoral system, saying, “Labour managed to secure a majority government with only 34% of the vote. This success was due to the splitting of right-wing votes between the Conservative Party and Nigel Farage’s Reform Party.”
“Continued Support for Corbyn”
Kozanoğlu highlighted the re-election of Jeremy Corbyn as an independent candidate, “Corbyn, who was unjustly labeled as antisemitic for his support of the Palestinian independence struggle and expelled from the party, won as an independent candidate in his constituency, defeating the Labour candidate by 8,000 votes. This shows that he still has substantial support from the public.”
Noting the influence of the Socialist Campaign Group, which stood by Corbyn, Kozanoğlu said, “Prominent members of this group retained their seats, and they might raise their voices even more in the Parliament. There is a significant number of left-wing MPs within the Labour Party who could oppose Starmer’s policies.”
Kozanoğlu also addressed the Conservative Party’s significant defeat in the election, stating, “There is a widespread belief in the UK: Elections are not won by the opposition, but lost by the government. This was true for the 2024 elections as well. Factors such as the high cost of living, high interest rates, inadequate public services, low growth, and productivity issues distanced voters from the ruling party.”
Evaluating Starmer’s policies and their potential future impacts, Prof. Dr. Kozanoğlu remarked, “Starmer plans to collaborate with asset management companies, which have become a major force in the global economy, particularly with BlackRock, the world’s largest firm in this sector. He aims to accelerate infrastructure investments through public-private partnerships. However, such collaborations could lead to higher housing prices and increased rents.” In foreign policy, Starmer aims to make Britain more active on the global stage.