Polling for the British parliamentary elections have begun. The polling opened to British voters at 7 am BST on Thursday and will continue till 9 pm BST with results being declared for some constituencies within one hour of voting closing. A number of parties are contesting, with the Conservative and Labour parties emerging as the front-running parties.
46.9 million people are registered to vote in the elections that will define Britain’s approach to leaving the European Union and its future after the exit. The formation of a new government that will negotiate the terms of Britain’s exit from the European Union later in June.
The election was announced by the present British Prime Minister Theresa May in April in an effort to secure a larger majority in the government.
May’s election campaign started with an expectation of securing a landslide victory with a majority of 144 over the Labour Party’s Jeremy Corbyn. However, the Labour Party has gained considerably on Theresa May and her Conservative Party, with latest prediction polls showing a range of 12 to 1 point lead for May’s party.
The campaigning for the upcoming election has been overshadowed by the recent terrorist attacks in Manchester and London. The attacks have brought security into the spotlight in addition to the Brexit negotiations that have taken centrestage in the election campaign.