British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made a fervent appeal to right-leaning voters on Monday, urging them to support the Conservative Party in the upcoming election.

He warned that a sweeping victory for the Labour Party could be detrimental to the nation and its democratic principles.

Sunak's plea comes as the Conservatives face the possibility of losing power after 14 years of governance, a period marked by significant events such as Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the economic fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Recent opinion polls indicate a substantial lead for Keir Starmer’s centre-left Labour Party, with a 20-point advantage over the Conservatives. The rise of Nigel Farage’s right-wing Reform UK is further complicating the political landscape by potentially splitting the centre-right vote.

Speaking at a rally, Sunak highlighted the risks of a Labour supermajority, stating, “If there is an unchecked, unaccountable Labour Party in power with a super majority, think what that would mean for everyone. Once you’ve given Labour a blank check, you won’t be able to get it back, and that means that your taxes are going up … it’s in their DNA.”

Farage, known for his long-standing opposition to the establishment and the European Union, and his recent support for Donald Trump, is positioning Reform UK as the main right-wing alternative to the Conservatives. This election marks his eighth attempt to secure a seat in the Westminster parliament. Although Reform UK's support appears to have peaked in June, Farage remains a significant figure, despite some of his candidates being dropped for controversial remarks.

Reform UK’s rise has contributed to the Conservatives' challenges, with the party's membership doubling from 30,000 to 60,000 in a month. Farage expressed gratitude for the financial backing received, stating, “It is humbling but also very telling that they are prepared to back their faith in Reform UK with hard-earned cash and I thank each and every one of them.”

The British electoral system means that while Reform UK might attract millions of votes, it is unlikely to win more than a few parliamentary seats. However, this could still split the right-wing vote in key areas, benefiting Labour.

As Europe experiences a rightward shift, with France’s Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally making significant gains, Britain appears poised to elect a centre-left government. With many voters still undecided, Sunak made a final push to rally Conservative supporters, saying, “I say to every Conservative: don’t surrender to Labour, fight for every vote, fight for our values, and fight for our vision of Britain.” Photo by Chris McAndrew, Wikimedia commons.