As millions vote in UK polls, future of PM Rishi Sunak and his party hangs in balance
Rishi Sunak as Britain's first Prime Minister of Indian origin and the leader of the Conservative Party — fighting anti-incumbency of 14 years — hangs in the balance as millions of voters cast their ballots in a historic general election on Thursday. The British Indian leader and the man who wants his job — Labour leader Keir Starmer were among the early voters from an estimated 46 million registered voters as around 40,000 polling booths opened across the country at 7 am local time.
Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty walked hand-in-hand to their local polling booth on a sunny day in his constituency of Richmond and Northallerton in Yorkshire, northern England.
A little later, Starmer and wife Victoria were at their polling station in Camden, north London, sporting Labour red colours.
«Today, Britain can begin a new chapter,» Starmer told voters in a statement.
Key issues at stake in the UK election
«We cannot afford five more years under the Conservatives. But change will only happen if you vote Labour,» he said.
Sunak, meanwhile, took to social media to drive home his message: «Polls are open. It's time to stop the Labour supermajority that would mean higher taxes for the rest of your life.»
Sunak, 44, is up against voter angst towards the incumbent Tories after 14 years in power and has had to contend with trailing far behind 61-year-old Keir Starmer-led Labour Party throughout the six-week campaign.
Earlier, both leaders wrapped up their six-week-long campaign with contrasting messages
