British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced that the United Kingdom will hold a general election on July 4th.
“I have spoken with His Majesty the King to request the dissolution of parliament. The King has granted this request and we will have a general election on July 4th,” Sunak stated at 10 Downing Street.
The Prime Minister’s announcement follows new figures showing a sharp decline in inflation to 2.3 percent, the lowest level in nearly three years.
The ruling Conservative Party sees this as a positive achievement.
In January 2023, the Prime Minister made five pledges, including halving inflation, which had surpassed 11 percent at the end of 2022.
Sunak described the latest figures as a “significant moment for the economy” and expressed optimism about the future.
The Conservatives have been in power for 14 years, but have faced challenges in recent years, from slow economic growth to political instability, as demonstrated by frequent changes in party leadership.
According to the latest YouGov polls, the Tories are currently behind their main rival, the Labour Party.
Reacting to Sunak’s announcement of a summer snap election, Labour leader Keir Starmer described it as “a moment the country needs and has been waiting for.”
“The future of the country is in your hands,” he said. “Together we can stop the chaos, turn the page and start to rebuild Britain and change our country.”
Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey said, “This government is out of touch. It’s out of excuses and it’s out of time. And it’s time to get this Conservative government out of office.”
Parliament will be formally dissolved on May 30, with the election campaign taking place until polling day on July 4th.
A statement from Buckingham Palace following Sunak’s announcement said, “The Royal Family will, in accordance with normal procedure, postpone engagements that may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign.”
“The announcement of a general election was no real surprise given recent economic figures. The current government can argue that the country’s economy is headed in the right direction and now is not the time to change strategy,” said Professor John Bryson from the University of Birmingham.
