British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak today called a general election for July 4, surprising most analysts and politicians who had expected a vote in the fall and confirming rumors in the press and social media.
“The time has come for the United Kingdom to choose its future and decide whether it wants to build on the progress it has made or risk going back to square one, without a plan and without commitment,” he said in a statement from Downing Street. office and official residence, after meeting the Council of Ministers.
Sunak said, “Britons must choose who is willing to take the bold steps needed to secure a better future for our country and who has that plan.”
The Prime Minister announced that he had received permission from King Charles III to dissolve Parliament on May 30. Voting will take place after 25 working days.
The announcement comes after positive economic data in recent weeks, thanks to growth slowing to 0.6% in the first quarter, and the inflation rate falling to 2.3% in April, the lowest level in nearly three years.
Sunak hailed the figure as a sign that his economic plan was working.
British law gave the government until the end of May 2025 to hold an election and most analysts predicted the prime minister would be keen to delay the date as long as possible.
The Conservatives, in power since 2010, trail Labor by 20 percentage points in the polls.
Strathclyde University Professor John Curtis warned the Conservatives had a “huge challenge” ahead.
“This looks like an election that Labor will win. Almost two words come to mind with regard to the Prime Minister’s decision: either he is too bold, or too reckless”, he said in reports on the BBC.
