London, 4 July 2024 (dpa/MIA) - Millions of people across the UK will cast their vote in the country's general election on Thursday with opinion polls suggesting the centre-left Labour Party is on course to secure a big majority in the House of Commons and form a new government.

Polling stations will be open between 7 am (0600 GMT) and 10 pm.

In what may be his last day with the title, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak urged voters to "save the UK" from a Labour majority by voting Conservative.

Sunak was joined by his parents and his wife, Akshata Murty, for the final stump speech of the election campaign on Wednesday.

"This underdog will fight to the final whistle," Sunak said during his last speech on the trail.

In his last speech of the campaign, Labour leader Keir Starmer encouraged voters to "imagine a Britain moving forward together with a Labour government."

As the bookies' favourite to be the next prime minister, Starmer said he was pleased with Labour's campaign and his party was "ready for what comes next."

An average of all polls completed during the seven days to July 3 puts Labour on 39%, the party's lowest rating since the campaign began, 18 points ahead of the Conservatives on 21%, followed by the right-wing populist Reform UK on 16%, the centrist Liberal Democrats on 11% and the Greens on 6%.

The Conservatives are up slightly on the figures for the previous week while Labour are down, with the averages for the seven days to June 26 being Labour 41%, Conservatives 20%, Reform 16%, Lib Dems 11% and Greens 6%.

Photo: EPA