By Innocent Fowung, UK Correspondent
British Prime Minister (PM) Rishi Sunak has announced that Britons will go to the polls on Thursday, July 4, as he bids to win the fifth term in office for the Conservatives.
The PM made the unexpected move outside 10 Downing Street, on May 24, and overturned the expectations of an autumn general election. As anticipated, October or November had previously been thought more likely for an election date.
But the rumours started swirling from early on Wednesday morning, after confirmation that annual inflation had fallen to its lowest rate in almost three years.
During last week’s Prime Minister’s Questions in the HouseCommons, it still was not clear whether an announcement was coming. It was not until just after 17:00 BST that the UK’s first July election since 1945 was confirmed.
The Prime Minister referred to the inflation figures as he announced the election date in Downing Street later in the day, in a sign he hopes to frame his campaign around a narrative of economic recovery after a period of rising living costs. He added that the fall in inflation, along with the UK’s emergence from recession earlier this year, were “proof that the plan and priorities” he had set out were working.
Ahead of this unprecedented call for early polls, the PM has asked His Majesty, The King to shut down the parliament in preparation for the election. Parliament will be dissolved on Thursday,May 30 and the general election will take place on Thursday 4 July 2024.
The Prime Minister agreed that the pre-election period will start at 00:01 on Saturday May 25, during which time there will be restrictions on the conduct of government business. This is an important time for the nation to reflect on who they choose as their new leader and the governmentupholds its core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality will be under even greater scrutiny.
According to BBC report, the PM’s statement did not go entirely to plan, as he battled worsening rain and activists blasting out New Labour anthem Things Can Only Get Better over a loudspeaker. There was confusion in at least some parts of the Conservative Party about why Mr Sunak had decided to call the election sooner than had been widely expected.”I just don’t understand it,” one conservative MP stated during a BBC news broadcast. “The economy is improving. Why not give that more time to bed in?”One senior minister was annoyed that Mr Sunak had given his speech in the driving rain.
Labour Party leader, Sir Keir Starmer has welcomed the move, adding that it was “time for change”, away from “Tory chaos”. Labour has been posting large leads in national opinion polls, and has insisted it has a fully organised campaign ready to go. The Labour leader further stated that election is the “moment the country’s been waiting for”, adding that with “determination” there is so much pride and potential to unlock” in the United Kingdom (UK).
According to Labour leader, Mr Sunak’s statement is the start of weeks of general election campaigning for the 650 seats in Parliament.
It will be fought on the first set of new constituency boundaries since 2010, redrawn to reflect population changes since then, and will be the first where voters have to show ID.
According to reports, the Royal Family has postponed engagements “which may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign”, Buckingham Palace said, adding that the King and Queen sent their “sincere apologies” to those affected.
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has announced he will stand as independent candidate in Islington North in 4 July’s general election. The 74-years old Mr Corbyn, who has represented the London constituency since 1983, was blocked from standing for Labour by the party’s government body. He was suspended as a Labour MP in 202 for his response to a report into anti-Semitism in the party.At the time, Mr Corbyn called the move “political”. Mr Corbyn’s decision to run against Labour in the general election posed a threat to current leader Sir Keir Strmer and can further exacerbate existing tensions between himself and MPs on the left of his party.
RMT leader, Mick Lynch has given Jeremy Corbyn backing in the general election. Mick Lynch said the union would back Mr Corbyn should he run for his seat again as an independent.”We will support all sorts of people in this election, because we’re not affiliated,” Mr Lynch told the War on Want conference.He added: “We will support Labour candidates. We will support socialist candidates.”We will be supporting Jeremy Corbyn in the next election.”The RMT became estranged from Labour in 2004 under Tony Blair;s leadership, meaning –unlike many other trade unions – it is free to support other candidates.