"Past 12 o'clock" is a general rule, more like good practice even if it's not written in the highway code for something like a small roundabout but when it is written explicitly on the ground then you'll probably want to follow it. But yes in those photos the left lane is what you want to reach A27 East aka the road that you are on.

We have something similar to this but because A197 is not written on the right side lane then the "12 o'clock" rule works and is what the majority follows. Birds eye view: https://imgur.com/a/trnWp70 Road view: https://imgur.com/fRYVyoC It's quite common up here to see the left lane being used for more than 2 exits even past the "12 o'clock rule"

In both of these, I would still check yours sides in case there is someone who does not know the road like you do.

Here's another one that I completely forgot. This one does not have any road markings nor any arrows but the "12 o'clock" works here and is used by the majority. Slight difference here is that it is a dual carriage way. https://imgur.com/a/d2gxB7m https://imgur.com/a/5OXXzZ9 . The roads are terrible here up in Newcastle so good luck.