BNO diaspora gets its say in UK vote

British nationals will go to their designated polling stations tomorrow to elect a total of 650 representatives to the House of Commons. The party winning the most seats will be able to form the government and its leader will become prime minister.

If BNO visa holders now living in the UK have already had a taste of what elections are like in the world's oldest democracy with the local council elections in May, this will be their first time to help decide the country's national government.

The diaspora from Hong Kong is said to have been active in organizing local workshops to understand candidates in their local constituencies.

The Conservative Party has also prepared campaign materials in Cantonese in some areas where people from Hong Kong congregate.

The Labour Party is tipped to win big in this election - the only outstanding question is just how big.

A poll conducted about a week before the vote showed Labour was about to win 425 of the 650 seats, which would be just a little short of the two-thirds absolute majority.

Yet a new poll carried out closer to election day showed Labour's lead has narrowed, though still enough to win a big majority in parliament.

Labour leader Keir Starmer is set to be the next prime minister.

It is such a foregone a conclusion that a British fashion shop, tongue in cheek, offered Starmer some new outfits in a classic British joke suggesting that the Labour leader had better dress up to look smart since, after all, he would be representing the country in the international community.

There is a paradox in this election.

As the European continent experiences a major shift to the far-right - as reconfirmed by the outcome of the French parliamentary elections in which the party led by Marine Le Pen won the most votes in the first round - the imminent Labour victory would suggest Britain heading left in the opposite direction.

This is despite evidence in the final week that the popularity of both Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats was on the rise.

Despite the two parties' increased share of the votes, they may not win as many seats proportionally due to the single-seat constituency system.

It is certain that the economic problems facing the country under the Conservatives' leadership will not just disappear after Starmer visits King Charles after the votes are counted.

The list of issues in need of fixing is rather long, from the slow economic recovery to the high cost of living, from the tremendously pressured National Health Service to missed housing targets, and from local councils going bankrupt to fast increasing poverty.

Although education continues to be a major attraction thanks to its liberal, multicultural environment, a Labour victory will also mean a 20 percent jump in private school fees as the party has pledged to subject private schooling to value added tax.

The problems facing Britain are all about money - the same cause that is also troubling other governments.

How will British nationals and BNO visa holders vote tomorrow? Many made up their minds some time ago.