5 July 2024

Labour Wins General Election

The Labour Party has swept to victory in the 2024 General Election, winning 412 seats (at time of writing, with two constituencies still to be declared) and the biggest majority in 25 years. Sir Keir Starmer will be formally appointed Prime Minister this afternoon and move into Number 10 over the weekend. Rishi Sunak has announced he will resign as Conservative Party leader, but will remain in place while a leadership race plays out.

The Conservatives suffered big-name losses, as well as overall numbers, including Liz Truss, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Penny Mordaunt and former print company director, Grant Shapps.

There were also big wins for the Liberal Democrats, who won 71 seats, making them comprehensively the third party in Parliament – with Reform, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party each picking up four seats.

Parliament, with hundreds of new MPs, will return on Tuesday. Over the coming days and weeks, the new intake will be busy hiring staff, securing offices on the Parliamentary Estate and in constituencies, setting up websites, landlines and email addresses and finding their way around Westminster. They must also be formally sworn in one by one, making an oath of allegiance to the Crown – this is likely to happen over 10 and 11 July.

On 17 July, the King’s Speech will clarify the new Government’s plans for the coming months.

Later today, and the early part of next week, will bring news of Cabinet appointments, including the new Secretaries of State for Business & Trade, Education and the Treasury ministerial team.

Here’s a quick overview of what you can expect from your Federation to keep you updated in the coming weeks:

• Week beginning 8 July: our Lobbying Bulletin will include an overview of key appointments, and biographies of the new ministers and shadow ministers most likely to have an impact on print, business and the economy. We’ll also let you know about any new MPs with an interest or background in print, small business, and manufacturing – they’ll also be targets for our lobbying work!

• 9 July: we’ll bring you a deep dive into the Labour manifesto and what it will mean for print if Labour takes forward its promises. It’s a lengthy document, so we’ll pick out the most relevant pledges that could affect our industry. Vital reading ahead of Member’s Day!

• 17 July: our response to the King’s Speech, with analysis of how Labour’s early priorities may impact print, and a list of relevant legislation announced.

• 19 July: before MPs head to their constituencies for the summer recess, likely to be a week later than usual to allow for some Parliamentary Business to take place, we’ll bring you a comprehensive guide to MP visits.

• Early autumn: we can expect Labour’s first Budget in early autumn, no earlier than 13 September (the Office for Budget Responsibility needs a minimum of ten weeks to prepare their analysis). As always, we’ll bring you our Budget roundup and response.

Our monthly Lobbying Bulletin will keep you update with further news, including events and speeches at the Party Conferences in September/October, Select Committee appointments and what’s happening in the Conservative leadership race.

Charles Jarrold, BPIF CEO, said:

“Congratulations to the Labour party on their landslide victory.

With such a large majority there’s a great opportunity for Labour to work closely with UK industry, and print in particular, to make sure that UK business can fully contribute the productivity and growth challenges that have been so persistent recently. It’s businesses that create the growth that we all need, and we look forward to working with the new government to further unlock the potential in the sector.

There’s so much that we are proud of about our sector, and there’s much that Labour will be able to do to accelerate its potential. We look forward to working with the new government across the areas in our Manifesto for Print, which set out the sector’s needs.  Overall, that means making it easier for businesses to invest, further enhancing and developing apprenticeship and skills training and funding, consistent focus on environmental performance and making sure that the UK business environment is really favourable to the many vibrant entrepreneurial businesses across print and packaging.”

Carys Davis, BPIF Public Affairs Adviser, said:

“In addition to the new Government, a new Parliament is a fantastic opportunity to raise the voice of print. As well as working with Government, it’s vital we maintain existing relationships with the Conservatives in Opposition and introduce ourselves to new backbenchers from all parties.

Our Election Manifesto clearly sets out how policy and decision-makers can support our industry, and towards the end of the year our Priorities for Print process will launch, finding out from you, our members, what you think will make a difference over the first half of the Parliament.

With so much change, it’s more important than ever that the industry share its views with us. With your input, feedback and suggestions, we can continue to be a strong voice for print in Parliament."