The 2024 General Election: Its Long Term Effects on UK

By Emily Cho ‘27

The 2024 UK general election will shape the trajectory of British politics throughout the next decade in terms of addressing and providing solutions for economic stagnations and improving public healthcare. This election, marked by the victory of the ¹Labour Party under the leadership of ²Keir Starmer, not only signifies a shift away from the Conservative dominance that has been present for the past fourteen years, but also reflects the voters’ frustration with the ³Conservative Party handling critical issues such as ⁴Brexit, economic downturns, and healthcare. Therefore, the Labour’s commitment to tackling these issues will be crucial in positively affecting the future course of the UK.

First, it will positively affect the economic stagnation derived from Brexit. 

Brexit significantly interfered with the UK economy- causing reduced trade, investments from foreign countries, and economic growth. According to the Office for National Statistics, UK goods export to the EU decreased by 12% and imports by 18%, critically damaging industries correlated to European markets and the Centre of European Reform estimates that the UK’s

GDP decreased by 5.2% which costs the economy 40 billion pounds annually. According to labour.org, the Labour Party plans to alleviate this economic downturn by establishing a National Wealth Fund for public investments, which de-risks and promotes private investments- leading to the expansion of investments and economic growth. The fund is aiming to attract three pounds of private investment for every one pound of public investment, producing more jobs which decreases the unemployment rate and stimulating the economy. The production of more jobs would also lead to the stability in society and increase in income, ultimately resulting in increase of consumer spending and activating the circular flow of economic activity.

Second, their policies will improve the UK's public healthcare system.

The ⁵National Health Service (NHS) has faced severe challenges such as long waiting time for treatments and shortage of healthcare professionals. This is particularly concerning because the NHS was a revolutionary step in terms of equal accessibility to healthcare regardless of financial status and is regarded as a cornerstone of British healthcare- highly respected by its citizens and frequently referred to as a “national treasure”. According to the British Medical Association, in May 2024 alone, a total of 42,600 patients waited for over 12 hours for emergency admissions, which is closely associated with medical shortages. To address these issues, the Labour Party plans to invest 1.1 billion pounds for the recruitment and training of the nursing staff and to 

provide 8,500 additional mental health care staff. Additionally, they have proposed to cut the 

In conclusion, the 2024 UK general election will positively affect the future course of the UK with the policies of the Labour Party resulting in the alleviation of crucial issues like economic stagnation and improvement of public healthcare. With Britain facing unprecedented economic downturns and medical challenges in recent years, the Labour Party will play a crucial role in determining the future of the country for the next decade. If their policies are successfully implemented, it could bring prosperity and stability to Britain over the next decade.

¹Labour Party: A major political party in the UK formed in 1900, representing center-left ideologies

²Keir Starmer: The leader of the Labour Party since 2020 and former Chief Prosecutor

³Conservative Party: A major political party in the UK formed in 1834, representing center-right ideologies

⁴Brexit: The withdrawal of the UK from the European Union, leading to major political, economic, and social changes in the UK

⁵National Health Service (NHS): Publicly funded healthcare system in the UK, established in 1948

NHS waiting hours with 40,000 more appointments in a week as well. These measures will ensure that healthcare services are accessible to all and improve the quality of life for many British citizens, aligning with the NHS’s foundational principle and further strengthening its legacy.

Works Cited

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4. Labour Party health policy: How we will build an NHS fit for the future – The Labour Party. (2024, June 24). The Labour Party. https://labour.org.uk/updates/stories/labour-party-health-policy-how-we-will-build-an-nhs-fit-for-the-future/

5. Labour promises to hit 18-week NHS waiting target within five years. (2024, May 28). BBC Breaking News, World News, US News, Sports, Business, Innovation, Climate, Culture, Travel, Video & Audio. https://www.bbc.com/news/health-69070207

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7. The truth about government-controlled health care. (n.d.). The Heritage Foundation. https://www.heritage.org/article/the-truth-about-government-controlled-health-care

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9. UK trade in goods, year in review. (2024, March 1). Home - Office for National Statistics. https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/nationalaccounts/balanceofpayments/articles/uktradeingoodsyearinreview/2023