UK Elections 2024 Explained for Americans + Historical Context

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00:00-00:35 Intro
00:36-5:17 What is a general election?
5:18-7:04 Context for 2024
7:05-13:06 Historical context
13:07-15:40 Other parties & conclusion

1. ‘How government works’ gov dot uk
2. 2017 U.K. general election results and “confidence and supply” Britannica.
3. First YouGov MRP of 2024 general election
4. BBC. Nicola Sturgeon arrested in SNP finances inquiry 11 June 2023
6. Liberal Democrats dot org. What we stand for Our beliefs, principles and values
7. IPSOS. The Polls and the British General Election of 1997
8. Types of election, referendums, and who can vote. Uk dot gov
9. Parliament dot uk. “Start of a new Parliament”
10. BBC History Tony Blair (1953 - )
11. Blair Maiden Speech to HoC. 1983
12. BBC Question Time 1985. BBC QT Facebook Page 2019.

Stock video and imagery provided by Getty Images.

[pipoo]

Basically every socio economic statistic of the UK from GDP per capita to life expectancy has been in reverse almost since the moment the current Conservative Government came to power in 2010, this decline played a big part in the Brexit referendum result in 2016, as Conservative media and commentators successfully deflected blame to the EU, but now the failure is palpable and visible everywhere and people have realised it started with the Conservatives in power in 2010. Prior to that the period 1945-2010 was a hugely transformative one in terms of living standards, life and job prospects. Yes we had economic ups and downs, like any other country. This current Government is going to be the first in post WW2 history to actually measurably leave and average British family worse off than when they came to power.

[jonharvey]

As a bit of random trivia the song things can only get better was performed by D ream the keyboardist for D ream was professor brian cox who is now the BBC's leading science communicator

[WorthlessWinner]

Although in theory, we don't vote for the PM but vote for local MPs who then choose their the voters seem to in practice choose which PM they want (and base which MP they vote for on that). I think the system has evolved towards a de facto presidential system (as the PM has got more and more centralized power) without the voting system changing to reflect this, but the behavior of voters has changed to reflect this.

[jimbrimble]

This is a great explainer for us in the UK too! You know more about our politics than the majority of UK citizens! Great work sir!

[pipoo]

A UK General Election is basically 650 local elections with a national campaign and manifesto organised by the main parties and their leaders. Historically the British Conservative Party is the oldest and most successful political party in the democratic western world. This election could make history as it’s looking increasingly likely Labour are about to oust them from power with biggest majority in history, a super majority of 250-300, maybe even more. Not only that it looks like the Conservatives won’t even be the official opposition afterwards. The last time we saw party upheaval on this scale was in the 1920s when Labour broke through and displaced the old Liberal Party and created a new two party system as the main rival of the Conservatives.

[mharley]

I think it’s important to also look at the things that Tony Blair did in government. He massively increased spending in the NHS and increases sufficiency to the point where it was not uncommon for people to complain about how fast they could get appointments. He Increased spending on education and housing and benefits for the poor, he paid for this by mostly raising taxes on the wealthy, particularly the financial industry in London. His greatest flaw was supporting the Iraq war, which was horrific.

Looking at the economic data from 1997 to 2007 you can see the evidence is pretty clear. Britain was booming and at one point British citizens were wealthier than citizens in United States. The question for Starmer is, can he lead his party to replicate many of the successful policies of Tony Blair’s time in office?

[EmperorTigerstar]

10:00 - If that mis-attributed quote is intentional, well done.

[nigeh]

I was involved in my Labour MPs campaign in 97 and was on the battle bus for a good few days.
I and everyone else was sick of ‘things can only get better’ by D’ream.
It was everywhere at the time.
My MP was re elected and didn’t stand down until 2009 after 15 years.

[Soliloquy]

I've said this before but I'll say it again because you've made a great video so I feel compelled to leave a comment...

While the fact that a nation using the Westminster system doesn't vote for their Prime Minster directly get all the attention; in practice, voters know who the Prime Minister will be if any given party holds the majority. Most obviously, with nationally broadcast debates between the leaders, many voters base their vote on what the leader has said, regardless of who their local member will be. I think the real difference between this and a presidential system isn't that the Prime Minster is must gain the confidence of the house after the election, but that they have to maintain it every day after that. If a Prime Minister does a poor job or does something scandalous, they might soon lose public support, and then they will soon lose the support of members and be rolled - no impeachment, inquisition or election necessary. It provides a level of flexibility absent from a President with a personal mandate.

[arianwen]

As a Welsh person I must say that pronunciation of Dwyfor Meirionnydd was incredible I am really pleasantly surprised! Da iawn (well done) 3:33

[clemandax]

Hung parliaments don’t require a coalition, the largest party can just govern with a minority like Trudeau’s Liberals have in Canada for the last five years, it’s just a lot harder to do so. This last happened in 1974, where the first election returned a hung parliament and the second one months later gave Labour a majority. The Cameron-Clegg coalition was quite unusual, and May’s situation only worked because she wasn’t too far from a majority so could use an allied party that’s only in Northern Ireland; take ten seats away from the Conservatives and things would have been much more unstable than how they already were.
Also, the downfall leading to 1997 starts with the poll tax, then Thatcher being ousted, then the 1992 win which was an upset, then a moment similar to Truss’ period that ended the Tories’ reputation for economic competence, then five years of floundering as the party tore itself apart over the EU being made into what it is today. Equally, Labour’s moving away from the hard left starts with Kinnock, not Blair, and the inevitability of 1997 was already clear before John Smith died.
Also, as a more minor correction, Boris was ousted in 2022 not 2023.

[pipercharms]

As someone from the UK, I still blame the Conservative party for Lizz Truss, Boris Johnson scandals. We want boring and stable. While Rishi Sunk is more stable, I can't let go of the fact, his party is still the party that supported these previous prime ministers. They only turned on them to save their own necks, not because it was what was right for us.

I just want the conservatives out, and if labour is the way to do it, then so be it. I do hope that the Labour Party will do better, even if its only slightly.


The conservatives as far as I am concerned only care about themselves and would run us into the ground, why taking money themselves. I believe I know what I am getting with them. So I'd do anything to get out of it.

For me the Labour Party leader also comes across more in touch, while the Conservative party leader does not.

[MrMikeBlakeney]

Great video! Clarification - the country is governed by the ruling party, and its Cabinet. The prime minister is just that - the first amongst equal ministers - the head of the Cabinet. When you think like this is makes more sense that you don’t elect a prime minister - because you don’t elect any of the others, you just elect the government.

[lord.liberty]

Another historical comparison that could be made is with Canada in 1993 and how the governing party was reduced to 3 seats. Much of the polling here in the UK thus far seems to place the Conservatives in a similar position, with them not even being the 2nd largest party. Even Rishi Sunak's seat is under threat.

[DylanSargesson]

14:30 - I wouldn't say that the UK is different from other countries in terms of moving towards populism, it's only that we already did it in 2016 & 2019, and now we're moving on. I think like this, the rest of the world is just a bit behind.

Starmer winning after Brexit/Johnson is not unsimilar to Biden winning after Trump or Tusk winning in Poland after PiS

[randomguy-tgok]

3:48 I'd like to insert the obligatory note that a typical majority is slightly less than 326, because Sinn Fein (Irish Republicans) abstain from participating in Westminster at all, which is _not_ counted as a "no" vote.

Oh, and there's also The Speaker.

[WorthlessWinner]

One thing to add to the historical context is the very similar change the Democrat party had under Clinton at the time. There seemed to be an anglosphere-wide shift right in left-wing parties in the period, just as there was an anglosphere wide shift to a more libertarian right in the 80s.

[Randalftown]

It's not a feeling of decline, it's happening. I have visited once or twice a year over the last decade or two, and I've been to just about every part of Britain. Broken roads, broken houses, broken people. You notice it more when you visit once in a while than you do if you live there. It's like visiting your friend's and being startled at how big their kids have grown since last time you visited, except your startled at how much more dirty and broken things are since last time.

[padraigpearse]

Should also be noted as well that we in Northern Ireland have little to no say who becomes prime minister. Labour and the conservatives don't exist here although they do have sister parties like the conservatives-DUP, Labour-SDLP and LibDems-Alliance although these votes have pretty much zero affect on the prime ministerial outcome. In essence we have no say in who rules us (what a surprise).

[alex]

Great video. I like the historical overview and summary of the political situation in the UK and I learned a lot as well. Good work.

Hope you are doing well. Take care 😊