The United Kingdom is casting its ballots today in its general election, with widespread speculation swirling about a potential change in government for the first time in 14 years. Many political analysts believe this election will be one of the most consequential in the country’s history since the end of World War II. As the sixth-largest economy prepares to elect its next leader, it’s worth revisiting the 2019 parliamentary election, an event widely considered a landmark since the war. Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson framed that December 2019 election as a referendum on a single issue: Brexit. The issue of 2019 polls General elections in the UK typically take place in the spring or early summer. However, in the autumn of 2019, the newly appointed Johnson took a gamble by calling for an election on December 12th, a time when most people are focused on the holiday season and generally prefer to avoid political discourse. For Johnson, desperate times called for desperate measures. The June 23, 2016 Brexit referendum, which saw a narrow victory for those advocating for an exit from the European Union, triggered a period of profound political chaos. Former Prime Minister David Cameron, who had campaigned for Britain to remain in the EU, resigned immediately after his side lost the referendum. His successor, Theresa May, attempted but failed to find a Brexit agreement that could garner support from a majority in Parliament. Different factions held divergent views on the post-Brexit deal the UK should pursue with the EU, leading to delays from the original departure date of March 2019. Parliament was in a state of disarray, and Johnson, who succeeded May, made a bold promise to “Get Brexit Done.” Amidst the political flux, Johnson offered clarity With Labour’s Brexit policy remaining unclear and its left-wing leader Jeremy Corbyn facing significant unpopularity, Johnson’s Conservatives achieved their largest majority since 1987 under Margaret Thatcher. Labour suffered its worst electoral outcome in terms of seats since the 1930s. Johnson’s success stemmed largely from his clear message, particularly resonating with voters in regions that had supported Brexit but had historically voted Labour. The UK formally left the European Union on January 31, 2020. The victory turned sour for the victor Any celebrations surrounding the victory were short-lived, however, as a deadly coronavirus pandemic swiftly spread across the globe. Johnson was forced to resign in the summer of 2022 after being found to have lied to Parliament concerning lockdown-breaching parties held at his Downing Street offices. His successor, Liz Truss, had an even more tumultuous 49-day tenure, marked by the unveiling of unfunded tax cuts that sent shockwaves through financial markets and resulted in a surge in borrowing costs for homeowners. Rishi Sunak succeeded Truss and has had to grapple with the dual legacy of their Conservative Party as they face the challenging task of preventing the Labour Party from returning to power in the UK.
