Rishi Sunak calls General Election to take place on July 4, 2024

Nicole Goodwin

22 May 2024 at 0:39 pm·2-min read

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak calls a general election outside Downing Street -Credit:PA

The 2024 General Election will be held on July 4, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced. The Tory leader confirmed on Wednesday that the election will take place this summer. Mr Sunak confirmed that The King granted his request to dissolve Parliament as he announced the General Election.

He also reflected on his time as Prime Minister and said that he will "fight for every vote" and prove to voters that only a Conservative Government led by him will "deliver a secure future" for the UK.

During Prime Ministers Questions (PMQs) hours earlier, Mr Sunak declined to rule out a summer vote when challenged over the timing.

SNP Westminster Leader Stephen Flynn asked the PM: "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 feart?"

Mr Sunak responded: "There is, Mr Speaker – spoiler alert – there is going to be a general election in the second half of this year.

"At that moment, the British people will in fact see the truth about the honourable gentleman opposite me (Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer), because that will be the choice at the next election, Mr Speaker – a party that is not able to say to the country what they would do, a party that would put at risk our hard-earned economic stability, or the Conservatives that are delivering a secure future for our United Kingdom."

But speculation about an announcement mounted in Westminster as Cabinet ministers were summoned for an unusually timed meeting, with Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron cutting short foreign trips to attend.

It comes amid some rare welcome news for the Prime Minister, as official figures showed inflation slowed to 2.3% in April, the lowest level since July 2021.

Announcing the General Election shortly after 5pm today, Mr Sunak said: "This hard earned economic stability was only ever meant to be the beginning, the question now is how and who do you trust to turn that foundation into a secure future for you, your family, and our country?

"Now is the moment for Britain to choose its future, to decide whether we want to build on the progress we have made or risk going back to square one with no plan and no certainty.

"Earlier today I spoke with His Majesty the King to request the dissolution of Parliament. The King has granted this request and we will have a general election on July 4."

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak concluded his election announcement by saying he will "fight for every vote" and prove to voters that only a Conservative Government led by him will "deliver a secure future" for the UK.

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