The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, has called time on his government, announcing a date while standing in the pouring rain outside Downing Street on Wednesday.
The next General Election will be held on 4 July 2024.
Sunak has been Prime Minister since October 2022 and was faced with either calling an election now – on the day that inflation has subsided to a more manageable 2.3% – or later in the year. He was previously Chancellor of the Exchequer and made mention of his first “meeting” with the UK public four years ago, introducing the furlough scheme during the pandemic.
He said that two major milestones have been achieved – a faster growing economy and inflation returning to “normal”. Battling to be heard above loud music blaring from the end of the street, he said now is the moment for “Britain to choose its future”. He confirmed he had asked the King earlier today for a dissolution of parliament, and the king had agreed.
Mr Sunak said : “This election will take place at a time when the world is more dangerous than it has been since the end of the Cold War.”
He admitted that his government has not got everything right but said he is proud of a long list of achievements including tackling inflation controlling debt, cutting workers’ taxes and increasing the state pension by £900. He said: “I hope that my work since I became Prime Minister shows that we have a plan and are prepare to take full action necessary for our country to flourish.”
He also criticised the opposition under Sir Keir Starmer and said Sir Keir was happy to abandon all promises he had made to become Labour Leader once he got the job. “how can he possibly be trusted to lead our country?”
Ian Murray MP for Edinburgh South said: ““After 14 years of this dreadful Tory government the country is crying out for change. Voters will simply ask themselves do they feel better off and things work better today after this 14 years and the answer will be no. We will fight for every vote with a positive policy platform to put our country back on track with a decade of national renewal. My political hero said in his last speech “all we ask is the opportunity to serve” and we will be seeking the privilege to do just that.”
The next General Election has to be held before 28 January 2025. The Parliament can only last for five years and this one would automatically dissolve on 17 December 2024.
The government which won the election held in 2019 under the leadership of Theresa May has changed considerably since then.
After Mrs May, Boris Johnson took office as Prime Minister, followed by Liz Truss who lasted for just 50 days. Ms Truss had her first meeting with Her Majesty the Queen at Balmoral on 6 September only two days before Her Majesty died.
Mr Sunak, MP for Richmond was elected leader of the Conservatives unopposed on 25 October 2022 and so became the next Prime Minister.
Earlier at Prime Minister’s Questions he would not answer SNP Westminster Leader, Stephen Flynn when he asked about the rumours. Mr Flynn said: “Speculation is rife, so I think the public deserve a clear answer to a simple question. Does the Prime Minister intend to call a summer general election or is he fear?”
Mr Sunak simply replied: “There is Mr Speaker – spoiler alert – there is going to be a general election in the second half of this year.”
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