Polling stations across the United Kingdom are opened on Thursday morning, with opinion polls suggesting the centre-left Labour Party is on course to secure a big majority.
Labour is expected to secure a majority in the House of Commons and form a new government after 14 years in opposition.
Millions of people will cast their vote between 7:00 a.m. (0600 GMT) and 10:00 pm. An exit poll, published shortly after 10:00 p.m., would provide the first indication of how the election has gone on a national level.
The first of the 650 seats are likely to declare their results from 11:30 p.m.
Party leaders have made their final appeals to voters after touring the country since the election was called.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Thursday represents a pivotal moment for the country’s future as he claimed Labour would “wield their unchecked power to increase taxes should they secure a supermajority.”
Mr Sunak was joined by his wife, Akshata Murty, as they visited a polling station to vote on Thursday.
He said “morning’’ and waved at reporters as he entered Kirby Sigston Village Hall in Northallerton.
In his final stump speech on Wednesday evening, Mr Sunak said, “This underdog will fight to the final whistle.’’
Labour leader Keir Starmer said the UK “cannot afford five more years under the Conservatives, adding Britain can begin a new chapter’’ under his party.
“Britain’s future is on the ballot,’’ he said.
As his campaigning ended, Mr Starmer was also cheered by activists as he spoke at a community centre in Redditch, Worcestershire.
He said, “That’s what we are fighting for. Let’s continue that fight. If you want change, you have to vote for it.’’
As the bookies’ favourite to be the next prime minister, Mr Starmer said he was pleased with Labour’s campaign and his party was “ready for what comes next.”
An average of all polls completed during the seven days to July 3 puts Labour on 39 per cent, the party’s lowest rating since the campaign began 18 points ahead.
The Conservatives at 21 per cent followed by the right-wing populist Reform UK at 16 per cent, the centrist Liberal Democrats at 11 per cent and the Greens at six per cent.
The Conservatives are up slightly on the figures for the previous week while Labour is down, with the averages for the seven days to June 26 being Labour 41per cent.
Conservatives 20 per cent, Reform 16 per cent, Lib Dems 11per cent and Greens six per cent.
Mr Sunak had called the snap general election on May 22.
(dpa/NAN)