UK to Hold General Election on July 4, Announces Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced that the country will hold a general election on July 4. The announcement came after Sunak requested the dissolution of parliament, which was granted by King Charles III. Speaking from 10 Downing Street, Sunak highlighted the significance of this decision following new figures showing that inflation has sharply fallen to 2.3%, its lowest level in nearly three years.

This decline in inflation is considered a significant achievement for the ruling Conservative Party. In January 2023, Sunak made five pledges, one of which was to halve inflation, which had previously soared above 11% at the end of 2022. Sunak stated that the latest figures mark a "major moment for the economy" and signal that "brighter days are ahead."

Despite this economic progress, the Conservative Party faces challenges, including slow economic growth and political instability, as evidenced by frequent changes in party leadership over the past few years. The Tories have been in power for 14 years but are currently trailing behind the Labour Party in the latest YouGov polls.

Labour leader Keir Starmer welcomed the announcement of the summer snap election, stating, "This is a moment the country needs and has been waiting for. The future of the country is in your hands. Together we can stop the chaos, turn the page, and start to rebuild Britain and change our country."

Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, also responded to the announcement, saying, "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."

The British parliament will be formally dissolved on May 30, initiating the election campaign, which will continue until polling day on July 4. Buckingham Palace has stated that the Royal Family will postpone engagements that could distract from the election campaign, adhering to normal procedure.

Professor John Bryson from the University of Birmingham commented on the announcement, noting that it was expected given the recent economic figures. He added, "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."