UK General Elections: UK PM Rishi Sunak calls surprise general election on July 4
UK General Elections: UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called for a surprise general election on July 4 in an official statement.
Taking to his X handle, Rishi Sunak said, “These uncertain times call for a clear plan and bold action to chart a course to a secure future."
"You must choose in this election who has that plan and who is prepared to take that bold action to secure a better future for our country and our children," he added.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was required to hold an election by January 2025 and had long avoided specifying his plans.
However, a drop in inflation rates announced earlier on Wednesday set the stage for his announcement. This decision initiates a six-week campaign that many expect will conclude with the fall of Sunak's Conservative government.
The move is likely to be welcomed by the opposition Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer, which is performing strongly in opinion polls and has aimed to position itself as a reformed and moderate group ready to take power.
Sunak hopes that a well-executed campaign could result in a surprising victory over Labour and extend the Conservative rule that began in 2010, during which the party has navigated austerity economics, Brexit, the Covid-19 pandemic and a cost-of-living crisis.
The UK Parliament passed a controversial bill allowing the government to send asylum seekers to Rwanda for their claims to be processed by the East African nation.
Sunak's efforts to enact the bill have faced opposition in both Houses of Parliament and challenges in British courts, with lawmakers and activists opposing the legislation on human rights grounds.
Additionally, Sunak's failure to implement the policy has caused significant embarrassment, as the British government has sent millions of pounds to Rwanda to fund a scheme that has yet to deliver any results, according per media outlet.
- With inputs from agencies
