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Rishi Sunak, the UK Prime Minister, has announced a general election to be held on Thursday, July 4th. This announcement came as a surprise, as many expected the election to be held in the autumn. Sunak stated that he is "fighting for every vote" and aims to win a fifth term in office for the Conservative Party.
The Labour Party, currently leading in opinion polls, expressed their readiness for the election and criticized the Conservatives' handling of the economy and public services. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer emphasized the need for change and stability in the country.
The Scottish National Party (SNP) and the Liberal Democrats also expressed their intentions to challenge the Conservatives in the election. The SNP aims to remove the Conservative government and prioritize Scotland's interests, while the Liberal Democrats seek to oust Sunak's government.
Sunak's announcement comes amidst a period of economic recovery in the UK, with inflation falling to its lowest rate in almost three years. However, the prime minister's statement was disrupted by worsening rain and protesters playing the New Labour anthem "Things Can Only Get Better."
The election campaign will take place over five weeks, with Parliament being suspended on Friday and formally shut down next Thursday. The campaign will focus on the first set of new constituency boundaries since 2010 and will require voters to show identification at polling stations.
The Royal Family has postponed engagements to avoid any distractions from the election campaign. The last general election in 2019 resulted in a Conservative majority, followed by a period of political volatility in the UK.
Sunak's predecessor, Liz Truss, lasted only 49 days in office before resigning due to a market backlash against her economic plans.
Source: Rishi Sunak announces UK general election for Thursday 4 July