Rishi Sunak made a rallying cry to the nation to stick with him over Sir Keir Starmer, as he announced the country will go to the polls on 4 July.
Rishi Sunak has called a general election for 4 July, saying “now is the moment for Britain to choose its future”.
In a statement outside Downing Street delivered in the pouring rain, the prime minister said he had met with the King to request the dissolution of parliament.
“The King has granted this request and we will have a general election on the 4th of July”, Mr Sunak said.
The surprise move is a huge electoral gamble given Labour are ahead by about 20 points in the polls.
Mr Sunak said this was “proof that the plans and priorities I have set are working”.
But in his cry to the nation that “this hard-won economic security should always be just the beginning,” he said, “The question now is who will build this foundation?” It’s about how you trust them.” Is there a safe future for you, your family, and our country?
“Now is the time to do it.” Britain needs to decide its future and decide whether to build on the progress it has made or risk starting from scratch. Without a plan or conviction.
The Prime Minister put the economy and global security threats at the center of his campaign, and began by reminiscing about his time as prime minister during the pandemic. He said he served his country while “its future was at stake.”
He said economic stability was the “foundation for future success” and he accused Labor of having no plan.
SUMMER ELECTION BIG GAMBLE FOR SUNAK
By Darren McCaffrey, political correspondent
The prime minister, late, increasingly soaked and being drowned out by protesters, confirmed there will be a July election.
Rishi Sunak’s pitch to voters is essentially better the devil you know, stick with me, I have a plan and Labour has no ideas.
“Now is the moment for Britain to choose its future, to decide whether we want to build on the progress we have made or risk going back to square one with no plan and no certainty” he said.
He is hoping that a relatively long campaign, a focus on security, in what he describes as an uncertain world and his economic record will eat into the enormous poll lead Labour have.
It is interesting there was much less focus on migration and small boats.
Sunak admitted mistakes had been made, accepted they had been in power for 14 years but played on lots of voter’s apathy about what Labour’s plans are for government.
This is undoubtedly a massive gamble for the prime minister, no party has ever come back from such a difficult polling situation, but he hopes under scrutiny Labour and Starmer will crumble.
At the moment, most in Westminster think it’s a gamble that will not pay off.
Let the proper campaign begin.
He finished his statement with an attack on his rival for Number 10, Sir Keir Starmer, saying he has “shown time and time again that he will take the easy way out and do anything to get power”.
Sunak added: “If he was prepared to abandon all his promises to be Labour leader after taking office, how do we know he wouldn’t do exactly the same if he becomes prime minister?”
. “If you don’t have the conviction to follow through on everything you say, if you don’t have the courage to tell people what you want to do, if you don’t have a plan, how can you do it? So would you please lead our country, especially in this most uncertain time in history?” Conservative track record in government.
Sir Keir pointed to sewage in the river, people “waiting for trolleys in A&E”, crime “virtually unpunished”, and mortgage and food prices “through the roof”. The choice is yours, and together we can stop the mess, turn the page and start rebuilding Britain and transforming the country,” he said.
If Sir Keir wins the election, it will end 14 years of Conservative government under five prime ministers.
Labor would need a 12.5 percentage point increase to achieve a majority of 1, something even Sir Tony Blair failed to achieve in his 1997 landslide victory.
But some pollsters believe the party has changed since its historic defeat in 2019, with Sir Keir on track to crush the Conservatives and take power with up to 400 seats. there is a possibility.
Prime Minister portrays himself as outsider
Later, at an election rally attended by ministerial colleagues, Mr Sunak described himself as an outsider to the campaign but said he was taking voters for granted. He blamed the Labor Party.
He said: “Labour would like you to think it’s over before this election begins. But we will fight every day for our values and vision, and the British people will show Labor that will.
Rishi Sunak’s job is not the only threat he faces.
The Liberal Democrats hope to gain a foothold in traditional Conservative strongholds by campaigning on issues such as NHS waiting lists and the sewage scandal, while Reform UK is targeting right-wing voters concerned about immigration. trying to gain the support of
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey described the government as “secular and out of touch” and said every vote for his party was a vote for a “local champion”.
Reform Britain leader Richard Tice said that while the Conservatives would “ruin Britain”, Labor would “bankrupt Britain”, adding: “Only the smart policies of Reform Britain can save Britain now”. Said
What are the rules for calling an election?
Mr Sunak has been saying for months the vote would happen in the “second half of the year” but had refused to set a date.
The assumption was he would wait until the autumn to give him more time to deliver on his pledges.
However, speculation he could go to the country earlier mounted in Westminster on Wednesday as cabinet ministers were summoned for an unusually timed meeting, with Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron cutting short trips abroad to attend.
As general elections have to be held every five years, the final day a vote could have taken place was 28 January 2025.
However, the Conservatives in 2019 restored the prime minister’s power to call an election at a time of their choosing within that five years.
The last general election was held in 2019, when Boris Johnson won the Conservatives a landslide over Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party.
Since then, there have been two more prime ministers, Liz Truss and Mr Sunak, and the Conservatives’ 80-seat majority has been reduced by a series of by-election losses while their popularity among voters has plummeted.