The United Kingdom has a parliamentary democracy, which means that the general election is held to elect members of parliament. This year’s General Election was carried on May 7th, and the results were announced on Friday, May 8th, 2015. The Conservative Party won 331 seats, Labour 232 seats, Liberal Democrats eight seats, and Scottish National Party 56 seats. It’d been a tale of two cities. But what happened to the UK citizens after this election? This post is about what happened in the UK after this general election took place regarding citizens living in Britain.
The Results of the May 2015 UK General Elections
The Conservative Party, which won the most seats in the election with 331, is a right-of-center political party. The Labour Party, which won 232 seats, is a center-left political party. The Liberal Democrats lost 49% of their vote and nearly all of their seats in parliament; they are now a minor party. The Scottish National Party, which won 56 seats, is a center-left political party.
There was an increase in the number of votes for smaller parties such as UKIP and the Green Party. This trend had increased over time since 1979 when two major parties dominated British politics – Labour & Conservative. The rise in support for non-major parties is often called the ‘squeezed middle. ‘ The turnout for that year’s election was 66.11%, the highest since 1997.
What Happened to UK Citizens After the May 2015 UK General Elections
As a UK citizen, a few things may have changed for you after the May 2015 UK General Elections. The Conservative Party has been in power since 2010, and they have made some changes that may now affect you. For example, if you are aged between 16-17, you will directly work up to 30 hours per week during term time and full time during school holidays. However, you will not be allowed to work for more than four weeks without a break of one week or more. This election may have also had implications on your taxes and pension plans. The Conservatives have promised no tax increases, but the Labour Party has said it would increase income tax rates by increasing the top rate from 45% to 50%. Pension plans have also been affected by this election, as the Conservatives want you to pass your pension tax-free. If you are a basic rate taxpayer and have received money from a defined benefit scheme, it will now be taxed at 20% instead of up until April 2016, which was 0%.
The Conservatives have also promised to maintain the triple lock on state pensions, which will increase each year by either inflation or average earnings increases. It is good news for retired UK citizens as their assistance should better reflect their standard of living. As well as this, the Conservatives want to protect winter fuel payments and free bus passes for all older people in Britain.
