Thursday Briefing: Britons head to the polls

What to expect from today's election.

View in browser|nytimes.com July 4, 2024 By Natasha Frost Good morning, and happy Independence Day to those who are celebrating. We're covering the British election, with help from Mark Landler, our London bureau chief. Also: President Biden's troubles. Plus: Why "Ode to Joy" sounds as wonderful as ever. Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, addressed prospective voters in London. Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters Britons head to the polls By Mark Landler Britain votes today after a campaign that featured the same ingredients as other elections across Europe and the Americas: frustrated voters eager to reject the status quo, a deeply discredited government and a dash of populism. But Britain is likely to emerge from the election as an outlier. While the electorates in other countries are shifting to the right, British voters are expected to evict the Conservative-led government after 14 years, in favor of the center-left Labour Party — zigging while others zag. The Conservatives, or Tories, have presided over a tumultuous era that began with David Cameron in 2010. It included harsh budget cuts after the financial crisis of 2008; the Brexit vote of 2016; the Covid pandemic; and a revolving door of prime ministers. For many, it has come to seem like a circus that now needs to leave town. Beyond the constant drama, Labour politicians charge that the Conservatives have broken Britain, including starving its revered National Health Service. Other experts note that Britain's departure from the E.U. has slowed trade and handicapped economic growth. Yet Labour's priorities don't seem all that different from those of the current government, which is no accident. Labour rejects the Tories less for the substance of their policies than for their hapless governance. It hopes to win over the many voters who are fed up with Conservative rule without frightening the ones who distrusted the tax-and-spend left. Polls suggest the plan is working. Labour has led the Conservatives by double digits in polls for more than 18 months. The current Labour leader, Keir Starmer, has positioned himself as a plausible substitute for Sunak — a change agent but hardly a left-wing revolutionary. For more Starmer, a former human rights lawyer, is on the cusp of a potential landslide victory without the star quality that marked previous British leaders. In Starmer, King Charles could get a prime minister he likes. They are likely to find common ground on issues including climate change and the E.U. Increase in migration, reduction in crime: These charts show how Britain has changed over 14 years of Conservative rule. Soccer — which has long been a convenient P.R. vehicle for British politicians — has helped shape the election, Simon Hughes writes in The Athletic. President Biden at a White House event this week. Doug Mills/The New York Times Biden scrambles to save his candidacy President Biden was fighting for his political future yesterday, confiding in close allies that he understands that he may not be able to salvage his candidacy if he cannot convince voters that he is up to the job after a disastrous debate performance last week. A new poll showed that Donald Trump had widened his advantage in the race, as concerns about whether Biden was fit enough to serve as an effective president grew more widespread. As speculation swirled about the future of the Democratic ticket, Biden had lunch with his vice president, Kamala Harris, before huddling with Democratic governors. An increasingly vocal contingent of Democrats are calling on Biden to restore the public's faith in his cognitive capacity. Related: A group of U.S. business leaders is calling on Biden to step aside. Kamala Harris is high on the list of possible backups, as buzz for the vice president grows on social media. President Biden no longer possesses the advantages that allowed him to defeat Trump four years ago, writes Nate Cohn in an analysis. If Biden drops out, how long do Democrats have to pick a nominee? MORE TOP NEWS Joe Raedle/Getty Images Caribbean: Jamaica's disaster agency reported dozens of flooded and blocked roadways, fallen trees and landslides as Hurricane Beryl lashed the island. Middle East: An Israeli drone strike killed a Hezbollah commander in Lebanon, and Hezbollah retaliated with a rocket barrage. Sierra Leone: A new law allows child brides to annul their marriages and be financially compensated. Tenerife: A search for Jay Slater, a missing 19-year-old apprentice bricklayer from England, has officially been called off. But conspiracy theories have continued to spread online. Nigeria: Two men, both of whom claim to be the emir of the ancient kingdom of Kano, are struggling for power and influence. India: The crush during a religious gathering that killed at least 121 people this week claimed the lives of three generations of women from one family. Taiwan: China's Coast Guard has seized a Taiwanese fishing boat and its crew of five. Benoît Jacquot: The French director was charged with the rape of two actresses, Julia Roy and Isild Le Besco. SPORTS NEWS Copa America: Why do Argentine coaches dominate the tournament? Xavi Simons: The Dutch soccer star is once again at a crossroads. Wimbledon: "Everything happens for a reason," the Canadian player Bianca Andreescu said after her break. (Jannik Sinner, Coco Gauff and Carlos Alcaraz won their matches. See the latest results.) "Bigger than just me": The transgender, nonbinary runner Nikki Hiltz has qualified for the Olympics. MORNING READ CBS, via Getty Images Even if you don't know all of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, you probably recognize its finale, the "Ode to Joy." Written 200 years ago, with easily hummable, simple phrases that use the same techniques you hear in a Taylor Swift hit today, it's a supranational anthem with a vision of unity and peace, writes Joshua Barone. Lives lived: Robert Towne, who won an Oscar for writing Roman Polanski's "Chinatown," died at 89. CONVERSATION STARTERS Green menagerie: Tim Bushe delights onlookers by trimming hedges near his London home into a zoo. Man behind the Minions: The French Indonesian animator Pierre Coffin created the scene-stealing yellow creatures of the "Despicable Me" series. "The Boy's Word": The bleak, nihilistic TV show Russians can't stop watching. Legal weed: New York tried to treat an addictive substance just like any other product. Here's what went wrong. ARTS AND IDEAS Dolly Faibyshev for The New York Times How competitive eaters down dozens of hot dogs Today, titans of competitive eating will take part in the Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest, an Independence Day tradition in the U.S. Most of these would-be champions aren't professionals, but passionate amateurs. Some have stretched their stomachs with vast quantities of food or liquid. They might use the Solomon Method — think King Solomon — which calls for snapping a dog in half before eating it. It may just come down to willpower: The body doesn't want to eat 72 hot dogs, and so the drive to overcome that instinct must come from within. We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times. RECOMMENDATIONS Linda Xiao for The New York Times Cook: Celebrate July 4 or just a summer day with this berries and cream sheet cake. Connect: This is our favorite relationship advice of 2024 so far. Experience: Spend 36 hours in Dublin. Travel: What to do when you test positive for Covid-19 ahead of a vacation. Listen: Take five minutes to fall in love with the jazz saxophonist Wayne Shorter. Play the Spelling Bee. And here are today's Mini Crossword and Wordle. You can find all our puzzles here. That's it for today's briefing. See you tomorrow. — Natasha Reach Natasha and the team at briefing@nytimes.com. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Morning Briefing: Europe Edition from The New York Times. To stop receiving Morning Briefing: Europe Edition, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. 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