Brian McDonald
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday set July 4 as the date for a national election that will determine who governs the United Kingdom, choosing a day of good economic news to urge voters to give the ruling Conservatives another chance.
“Now is the time for Britain to choose its future,” Sunak said.
Sunak’s centre-right party has seen its support steadily decline after 14 years in power. Over the past two years, he has struggled to overcome a series of crises, including an economic crisis, ethics scandals and a revolving door of leaders.
Images by Stefan Rousseau/PA via Getty Images
The centre-left Labor Party is heavily favored to defeat Sunak’s party.
Speculation about an imminent election increased after Sunak called a cabinet meeting for Wednesday afternoon – instead of the usual Tuesday – and Foreign Secretary David Cameron returned early from a trip to Albania to participate.
“These elections will take place at a time when the world is more dangerous than it has been since the end of the Cold War,” Sunak said in his announcement, sitting on a lectern in the rain at 10 Downing Street, London. “Putin’s Russia is waging a brutal war in Ukraine, and he will not stop there if he succeeds. This war has also made the risks to our energy security very clear. In the Middle East, the forces of Islamic extremism threaten the region and, ultimately, global stability… China aims to dominate the 21st century by stealing the lead in technology.”
“These uncertain times require a clear plan and bold action. To chart a course for a secure future,” he said.
The elections will be held in a context of a cost of living crisis and deep divisions over how to deal with migrants and asylum seekers making risky crossings of the English Channel from Europe.
The announcement came on the same day that official figures showed that UK inflation fell sharply to 2.3%, its lowest level in almost three years, due to big falls in domestic accounts.
The drop in April marks the biggest progress to date on five promises Sunak made in January 2023, including halving inflation, which had risen to more than 11% by the end of 2022. Sunak hailed the new figure as a sign of that his plan was working.
“Today marks an important moment for the economy, with inflation back to normal,” Sunak said on Wednesday. “Better days are ahead, but only if we follow the plan to improve economic security and opportunity for all.”
Voters across the UK will choose all 650 members of the House of Commons for a term of up to five years. The party that obtains a majority in the House of Commons, alone or in coalition, will form the next government and its leader will be the Prime Minister.
Labor leader Keir Starmer, the former chief prosecutor of England and Wales, is the current favourite. The party’s momentum has increased since it caused the Conservatives heavy losses in local elections earlier this month.
The Conservatives also lost a series of special elections for seats in Parliament this year, and two of their lawmakers recently defected to the Labor Party.
Following his party’s successes in local elections, Starmer, 61, last week announced a platform focused on economic stability after years of rising inflation as he tries to win over disillusioned voters.
He also promised to improve border security, recruit more teachers and police officers, and reduce long waiting lists at hospitals and medical clinics across the country.
Elections in the United Kingdom must not be held more than five years apart, but the Prime Minister can choose the time within that period. Sunak, 44, had until December to call an election. The last one was in December 2019.
Many political analysts predicted that an election in the fall would give the Conservatives a better opportunity to maintain power. This is because economic conditions could improve further, voters could feel the effect of recent tax cuts, interest rates could fall, and a controversial plan to deport some asylum seekers to Rwanda – a key policy for Sunak – could take off.
Sunak has been evasive about the election date, repeatedly saying – until lunchtime on Wednesday – that he expects it to take place in the second half of the year.
Although inflation has fallen, Sunak’s other promises – growing the economy, reducing debt, reducing waiting lists to see a doctor in the state-run National Health Service and stopping the influx of migrants crossing the Channel – have had less successful.
He has struggled after taking office following Liz Truss’ disastrous tenure, which lasted just 49 days after her economic policies rocked financial markets. Truss was chosen by party members after Boris Johnson was ousted over a series of ethics scandals.
