UK General Election Called For July 4
British voters will head to the polls on American Independence Day.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has just announced on the steps of his Downing Street home in the pouring rain that the date of the next general election will be July 4.
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Rumors had been rife since this morning’s nationwide inflation statistics, which brought good news for the sitting Conservative government, that an election would be imminent, although commentators didn’t expect it to be so soon until the past hour or so. Most analysts had previously believed the election would take place later this year or in January 2025, which was the absolute latest it had to happen.
Sunak’s Conservatives have been trailing in the polls to the opposition Labour Party for months now and Labour will be favorites following a recent disastrous local election campaign for the Tories.
UK parliament will shortly be dissolved and parties will spend the weeks furiously campaigning, a period that will likely include live televised election debates on the main networks.
“Now is the moment for Britain to choose its future”
Announcing the election on a Downing Street podium in the pouring London rain in the past few minutes, Sunak said “now is the moment for Britain to choose its future.”
“I have never or will never let the people of this country face the dark days alone and will do everything in my power to provide the strongest possible protection I can,” he added.
“For so many of us,” Sunak added, “it’s easy to forget the scale of what we’ve been through,” citing Covid-19, “war returning to Europe” and “energy bills spiralling.”
“I came to office above all to restore economic stability, the bedrock of any future success,” added Sunak. “Because of our sacrifice we have reached two major milestones in delivering that stability and showing when we work together anything is possible. Our economy is outpacing Germany and the U.S. and inflation is back to normal, so pressure on prices will ease and mortgage rates will come down. It’s proof the plan and priorities I set out are working.”
Sunak has been Prime Minister since late-October 2022 following the disastrous reign of his predecessor Liz Truss, who was outed after torpedoing the economy in just 42 days. Three Conservative PMs came before them – Boris Johnson, Theresa May and David Cameron – and there hasn’t been a Labour PM since 2010.
Since taking over, Sunak has failed to cut through with voters and has consistently trailed opposite number Keir Starmer in polls.
British elections are conducted via a first past the post system and the country is divided into 650 constituencies, meaning that the first party to 325 is elected winner or a minority government is formed. By July 5 the world will know who is leading Britain forwards.
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