As the British lawmakers left Parliament before the upcoming election, about 120 of them are stepping down or losing their seats, facing a sudden adjustment to life outside of politics. The formal suspension of Parliament, or prorogation, featured a traditional ceremony with hat-doffing and commands in Norman French. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s decision to call a summer election led to the abandonment of key legislation, including a plan to ban tobacco sales to future generations.
The campaign trail saw Sunak and his main opponent, Labour Party leader Keir Starmer, covering hundreds of miles across the UK, visiting businesses and communities. Labour, under Starmer’s leadership since 2020, is favored to win the election after moving towards the political center. However, tensions within the party were evident when former leader Jeremy Corbyn announced his candidacy as an independent against Labour’s nominee due to his suspension for minimizing antisemitism. Starmer has apologized for the issue, but Corbyn’s supporters claim he is being unfairly targeted.
Labour’s selection of Praful Nargund to run in Islington North, a seat held by Corbyn since 1983, reflects the party’s commitment to social justice and human rights. The high number of lawmakers quitting Parliament, including former Prime Minister Theresa May and prominent Conservative minister Michael Gove, signals a significant change in the political landscape. The prorogation of Parliament involved a traditional ceremony where the House of Commons assembled before the House of Lords in a formal procedure overseen by the official Black Rod.
Parliament passed significant legislation before the suspension, including a law to overturn the wrongful convictions of Post Office branch managers due to a faulty computer system, as well as a bill providing compensation to victims of a tainted blood scandal. Another law aimed at reforming property rights for leasehold owners in England and Wales was also enacted. However, some bills, such as the smoking ban proposed by Sunak, and a law preventing landlords from evicting tenants without cause, were not passed due to time constraints.
The decisive election in six weeks will see the swearing-in of 650 new members of Parliament, shaping the future legislative agenda. Regardless of the outcome, whether Labour or Conservative form the government, the State Opening of Parliament in July will bring about a new era of policymaking and governance. The campaign activities of Sunak and Starmer, as they crisscross the UK to engage with voters, reflect the competitive nature of the upcoming election and the stakes involved in shaping the post-election legislative agenda.
