July 11th 2024.
As an American living in the UK, I couldn't help but feel exhausted having to explain to my British friends how my country ended up with two presidential candidates who can barely put together a coherent sentence. When the snap General Election was announced earlier this year, I knew it was going to be quite the experience for me.
Having moved from North Carolina to the UK in 2021, most of my political experience here has been witnessing the awkward transition of prime ministers - from Boris Johnson to Liz Truss and then Rishi Sunak. So, an election was something new for me. The weeks leading up to the election were filled with hectic campaigns and attention-grabbing stunts, like Ed Davey's water slide, which was definitely a personal favorite.
Finally, on July 5, the UK had a new leader: Sir Keir Starmer. As I watched Sunak leave through one door and Starmer enter through the other, I couldn't help but think about how different the process is back in the US. The UK is lucky to have legitimate - albeit controversial - candidates, while the political atmosphere in the States right now is far from ideal.
In fact, a family friend in the US recently asked me about the UK's thoughts on our political climate. I hate to admit it, but the state of our politics for this upcoming election on November 5th has been nothing short of embarrassing. As an American in London, I've learned to embrace my cultural differences, but during election season, it's tiring to constantly have to apologize for how our country ended up with two candidates who are either a convicted felon or an elderly man struggling to keep up with the demands of his position.
What gives? Many of my British friends have criticized both of the top candidates in the UK this year - Starmer for being too "stiff and boring" and Sunak for being an "out-of-touch" posh boy. While these are valid points, I couldn't help but laugh because at least the UK has competent candidates. I know that America has plenty of brilliant, younger politicians ready to take on the challenge of running for president on both sides of the political spectrum. So, witnessing this year's UK election - as entertaining as it was - was a stark reminder of how dire the situation is back home.
One major difference that stood out to me was the transition of power. During his first speech as Prime Minister, Starmer congratulated Sunak for being the "first British-Asian prime minister" and praised his dedication and hard work. Sunak then returned the sentiment and congratulated Starmer on his victory. It was a civil and respectful exchange. When Trump lost in 2020, insults were thrown around and accusations of a "stolen election" incited a mob of his supporters to storm the Capitol on January 6th. So much for a peaceful transition of power.
On top of that, political ads are ramping up back home - with one pro-Trump video even questioning if Joe Biden will survive long enough to continue in office. In the UK, political advertising on TV is strictly monitored and not allowed, so even if Starmer wanted to speculate about Sunak's health, he wouldn't be able to. I also noticed that, compared to the slow political system in the US with a three-month long transition between presidents, the idea of Sunak being fired at breakfast and replaced by lunchtime was a welcome quick change.
As an American, I'm proud of my country, but something needs to change. How can a country that claims to be the greatest in the world only have two viable presidential candidates in Biden and Trump? Last week, Americans celebrated Independence Day on July 4th, commemorating the day we broke away from British rule. But when it comes to our political system, maybe there's a case to be made that we should look back across the Atlantic for guidance on manners and basic principles of our political candidates.
What are your thoughts on the UK's political system? I'd love to hear your opinions in the comments below. Despite the criticisms from British voters, I've come to the conclusion that at least the UK isn't the laughing stock of the world when it comes to their politicians. As an American, I'm proud of my country, but I can't help but feel that something needs to change. Maybe we can learn a thing or two from our neighbors across the pond.
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