Sunak Announces UK General Election for July 4
With expectations that the Conservatives are going to lose to the opposition Labour Party after 14 years in power, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has choosen July 4 as the date for a snap general election.
Ending the speculation about the timing of a new election, Rishi Sunak, 44, announced from outside his Downing Street office on Wednesday that he would be calling the election earlier than many had anticipated.
"Now is the moment for Britain to choose its future," he declared, highlighting key achievements of his tenure, such as the furlough scheme that supported businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. "We will have a general election on July 4."
Sunak faces the election with his party trailing behind Labour in the polls and experiencing some isolation within his party. He has become increasingly reliant on a small team of advisers to navigate what promises to be a challenging campaign.
Since taking office less than two years ago, Sunak has struggled to define his political stance and has grown frustrated that his perceived successes have not been recognized.
Meanwhile, Labour leader Keir Starmer has called for "change," stating that the election offers the country a chance to end the "chaos" of Sunak’s Conservative government. Both parties have effectively begun their campaigns, with economic and defense issues already prominent in their rhetoric.
“No matter what else is said and done, that opportunity for change is what this election is about,” Starmer told supporters.
“A vote for Labour is a vote for stability – economic and political, a politics that treads more lightly on all our lives; a vote to stop the chaos. It’s time for change.”
It is “hugely surprising that he’s decided to press the go button on a general election quite as early as he has,” Hull said.
“The assumption had been that he would going to wait at least until the autumn, giving his party that much longer to bounce back from its pretty awful situation in the polls – polling consistently, on average, about 20 points behind the opposition Labor party,” he added.
“Why would you go to the polls … when your party is riven with internal divisions, and rumoured dissatisfaction with his own leadership? Possibly because you think things are not going to get any better,” he said.
Sunak’s Conservatives are running way behind Labour in the opinion polls, and despite hailing a decline in inflation and an increase in defence spending, they have failed to make a dent in the opposition party’s lead.
Sunak’s Conservative Party is trailing significantly behind Labour in the opinion polls. Despite highlighting a decrease in inflation and increased defense spending, they have not managed to close the gap with the opposition.
Sunak is the third Conservative prime minister since the last election in 2019. Although he has stabilized the economy, this has not translated into increased public support for the Conservatives.
Encouragingly, data released on Wednesday showed that UK inflation dropped sharply to 2.3 percent, its lowest level in nearly three years, driven by substantial decreases in domestic bills.
He may take heart from figures released Wednesday showing inflation in the UK fell sharply to 2.3 percent, its lowest level in nearly three years on the back of big declines in domestic bills.
Labour has, however, led over the Conservatives of around 20 points in opinion polls since late 2021 – before Sunak took office in October of that year.
