The UK General Election
The general election took place on 4 July 2024
by Claire Law
Suitable for Whole School (Sec)
Aims
To consider the importance of democracy and the voting process.
Preparation and materials
- You will need the PowerPoint slides that accompany this assembly (The UK General Election) and the means to display them.
- Have available the YouTube video ‘Prime minister announces 2024 UK general election’ and the means to show it during the assembly. It is 1.22 minutes long and is available at: https://youtu.be/ioFdTnxfOVE
Assembly
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Have Slide 1 showing as the students arrive.
It’s been hard not to notice signs that the UK has been preparing for a general election over recent weeks.
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Show Slide 2.
Perhaps we’ve seen poll cards arriving through the post. In the weeks before an election, a poll card is sent to every adult who is registered to vote. The card gives details of when to vote and which polling station to use.
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Show Slide 3.
Many of us will have encountered some media coverage of the election, whether it’s watching politicians visit key locations or undertake TV debates, or listening to them being interviewed on the radio. In addition, all of the political parties have conducted social media campaigns.
In a democracy, the media are a key route through which the public hears about politics.
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Show Slide 4.
Some of us will have spotted advertising campaigns like this one from the charity My Life My Say, which aims to encourage young people to participate in democracy, and get every young person voting.
Recent research has revealed that more adults aged 18 to 22 have cast their ballot in reality TV shows than are planning to vote for the next government. The My Life My Say campaign focuses on engaging young people to use their vote in the general election.
In the UK, the minimum voting age is 18. However, many people argue that it should be lowered to 16, so this may change in the future.
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Show Slide 5.
On Thursday 4 July, the day of the election, we may also have seen signs like this one in our local area. Polling stations are public buildings such as schools or community centres where voting takes place during an election.
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Let’s watch this short video to understand what happens in a general election.
Show the YouTube video ‘Prime minister announces 2024 UK general election’ (1.22 minutes long).
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Show Slide 6.
On Thursday, adults in the UK had the chance to exercise their democratic right by voting for the next government.
The word ‘democracy’ means ‘rule by the people’, so in democratic countries, elections are held to give people a say in choosing the government.
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Show Slide 7.
By now, most of you will know the results of the general election. Remember, there are 650 seats in parliament in total.
- 411 seats were won by the Labour Party.
- 121 seats were won by the Conservative Party.
- 72 seats were won by the Liberal Democrats.
- 46 seats were won by other political parties, including the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru. -
So, what happens next?
After the results of a general election are known, the next step is to form a government. Then, the government will need to elect a Commons Speaker and swear in the elected MPs. During the swearing in, MPs take an oath promising to be loyal to the king and his heirs and successors.
On Wednesday 17 July, the state opening of parliament is scheduled to take place. The King’s Speech forms part of this, and marks the formal start of a new parliamentary session.
Time for reflection
Let’s take some time to consider the importance of living in a democracy, and having free and fair elections.
Show Slide 8.
Have you heard this quotation before? It comes from Edmund Burke, an eighteenth-century philosopher and MP. He said, ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.’
Our vote is a way for us to do something. We can use it to promote care for others, care for God’s creation and care for our nation’s resources. Failing to vote is a form of doing nothing; as Burke points out, that is one way in which evil can triumph. The choices that we make in life, and the actions that we take - including the choice and act of voting - help us to live out values of compassion, generosity and respect for others.
Let’s take time in silence to give thanks for the freedom that adults in the UK enjoy by voting. We recognize that in some countries, people do not have this freedom.
Pause to allow time for thought.
Let’s take a moment of silence to give thanks for people who choose to serve us as MPs. The UK people have expressed their views; it’s the job of the MPs to put into practice what the people have asked for.
Pause to allow time for thought.
Prayer
Dear God,
Today, we have reflected upon the freedom that we have in the UK to be part of a democracy by voting in elections.
We thank you for giving us the ability to think for ourselves, and to make decisions.
We thank you that we have the right to freedom of speech in the UK.
The UK people have elected the MPs who will work for the good of our country and our world.
We pray for those who will now serve as MPs to demonstrate wisdom and strength of character.
Amen.