In a collaborative initiative, Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) organized a visit for eight Ukrainian delegates to the United Kingdom. This unique opportunity took place around the UK general election held on July 4. The delegates, representing various Ukrainian political parties and civil society organisations at both national and local levels, were invited to observe and learn from the UK's electoral process.  

The purpose of this visit was to provide the Ukrainian delegates with a comprehensive understanding of the UK election system, to familiarise them with campaigning practices, and to establish connections with their UK counterparts.  

The delegates were divided into four groups, each aligned with their political ideologies in Ukraine and paired with corresponding UK political parties. Their visit included a variety of activities designed to provide a thorough overview of the electoral process.  

The visit started with a briefing at the WFD office in London, where they gained insights into the UK political system, 2024 general election polls, and key issues and toured the Houses of Parliament. 

Local campaign engagements 

Two delegates observed the Scottish National Party (SNP) activities in Glasgow North East. Another pair engaged with the Liberal Democrats in Edinburgh West. Two delegates joined Labour's campaign efforts in the Beckenham and Penge constituency in south London, and another two observed the Conservative campaign in North East Hertfordshire. 

During their local visits, delegates met with candidates, communications teams, volunteers, and party activists. They visited local offices, observed canvassing efforts (door-to-door campaigning), and engaged with regional parliaments such as the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh and Glasgow. On Election Day, they visited polling stations and observed the counting process. 

In compliance with WFD regulations, none of the delegates participated directly in any campaigning activities. 

WFD’s support for Ukrainian democratic recovery 

The schedule for parliamentary and presidential elections in Ukraine was interrupted by Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. However, Ukrainian political parties and civil society organizations (CSOs) are preparing for elections that will be held at some stage and will involve the unique challenge of engaging citizens in a context defined by conflict. WFD is working in partnership with parties and CSOs to build new approaches to citizen outreach and to understand and respond to the social issues vital for Ukraine’s democratic reconstruction. WFD’s support includes building strong relationships and offering insights into UK political practices as case studies from which Ukrainian leaders can identify practices and approaches that could be useful if adapted to the Ukrainian context. This type of direct engagement also allows Ukrainian and UK leaders to confer on areas where political parties and CSOs can better serve democratic outcomes. 

A Ukrainian delegation will also attend the UK party conferences this autumn, which will further strengthen the connections between UK and Ukrainian political actors.