As UK voters head to the polls this Thursday for a general election expected to potentially oust the ruling Conservatives after 14 years, here are some key figures to note:
650 Seats:
Across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, there are 650 seats up for grabs. A majority in parliament requires winning at least 326 seats.
4,515 Candidates:
A record number of candidates from 98 political parties are contesting, including 459 independents and a significant 30% who are women. Notably, there are 29 joke candidates, with 22 running under the “Official Monster Raving Loony Party”.
Candidate Details:
The most common name among candidates is David, with over 100 candidates sharing the name. The youngest candidates are 18-year-olds Pedro Da Conceicao and Adam Wayne Joseph Gillman, while the oldest is 86-year-old John Hugh Morris.
New Fault Line:
According to Democracy Club, there’s a new divide similar to the Brexit split: 52% prefer non-chocolate over chocolate biscuits among candidates.
46 Million Voters:
As of December 2023, over 46 million voters were registered in the UK. The number likely increased closer to the election, with British citizens residing abroad for over 15 years eligible to vote for the first time this year.
40,000 Polling Stations:
Approximately 40,000 polling stations are scattered across the country, including unconventional venues like pubs, a ship, a beehive center, a cricket field, and a fossil museum.
15 Tory Ministers at Risk:
YouGov polling suggests that at least 15 Conservative ministers in Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s cabinet are in danger of losing their seats, including prominent figures like finance secretary Jeremy Hunt and defence secretary Grant Shapps.
£13 Million in Donations:
Between May 30 and June 19, political parties received around £13 million in donations, with Labour notably securing £8.4 million compared to the Conservatives’ £1.2 million.
Campaign Stunts:
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey engaged in seven water-themed campaign stunts, including falling off a paddleboard multiple times on Windermere and pledging to improve Britain’s waterways.
Public Trust:
Public trust in political parties has declined significantly, with only 12% expressing trust in them according to a recent government survey, down from 20% in 2022. This distrust may impact voter turnout, which was 67.3% in the last election in 2019.
