Markus Andrews

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailRishi Sunak is “either very brave or extremely foolhardy” to call a snap election, according to Britain’s leading election expert.Professor Sir John Curtice said the Conservatives face a “major challenge” to hold on to power and that the election is “for Labour to win”.The prime minister ended months of speculation on Wednesday, announcing that the general election will take place on 4 July. Mr Sunak made the decision to move after it was announced that inflation had fallen to 2.3 per cent, allowing the PM to push the message that “the plan is working”.Sir John said the task confronting him was as big as the one that confronted former Tory prime minister John Major in 1997, when he lost heavily to Tony Blair’s Labour.“On average, the polls show Labour on 44 points, 21 ahead of the Conservatives, an enormous figure to turn round,” said Sir John.Rishi Sunak was alone outside 10 Downing Street when he called the General Election (Stefan Rousseau/PA) More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailRishi Sunak has finally ended the anticipation and called a general election for 4 July. The prime minister confirmed rumours circling Westminster on Wednesday and announced the country will be going to the polls this summer. The Prime Minister has gambled that improved inflation figures and a recovering economy will help him overturn Labour’s 20-point opinion poll lead. In a sign that security and the economy will be key battlegrounds, Mr Sunak said: “This election will take place at time when the world is more dangerous than it has been since the end of the Cold War.”But the summer election will likely raise questions among voters, as many will potentially have holidays booked for when the schools break up. Click here for our live coverage of the election announcement. Rishi Sunak announced the election in the pouring rain More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailRishi Sunak has called a General Election for July 4, saying it was “the moment for Britain to choose its future”.The prime minister made the announcement in a televised statement in the pouring rain in Downing Street at 5pm.It comes after the Tory leader declared inflation was “back to normal” in a “major milestone” for the country after official figures showed inflation slowed to 2.3 per cent in April.Speculation about an announcement had mounted in Westminster as Cabinet ministers were summoned for an unusually timed meeting throughout the day.For live updates on the election announcement – follow our blog by clicking hereRishi Sunak made the announcement as a loudspeaker could be heard playing D:Ream’s Things Can Only Get Better More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailRishi Sunak’s election announcement was drowned out by the sound of Tony Blair’s 1997 general election soundtrack Things Can Only Get Better, by D:Ream.The prime minister’s announcement outside Number 10 of a general election for 4 July was disrupted not only by the rain gradually soaking his suit, but by a protester blaring the song through a loudspeaker. The soundtrack to Mr Blair’s arrival at Downing Street was the last thing Mr Sunak wanted to hear.Rishi Sunak got drenched and was drowned out by the pop song More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailRishi Sunak has called a General Election for July 4, saying it was “the moment for Britain to choose its future”.The Prime Minister has gambled that improved inflation figures and a recovering economy will help him overturn Labour’s 20-point opinion poll lead.In a sign that security and the economy will be key battlegrounds, Mr Sunak said: “This election will take place at time when the world is more dangerous than it has been since the end of the Cold War.”The “uncertain times” call for a “clear plan”, he said.When will the next election take place?The election will be held on Thursday July 4.What ID will voters need on election day and can you postal vote?Acceptable forms of ID include a passport, driving licence, Proof of Age Standards Scheme (Pass) cards, Blue Badges and some concessionary travel cards. The Government has also said it intends to make veterans’ ID cards a valid form of voter identification after former service personnel were turned away from polling stations at local elections.Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak delivers a speech to announce July 4 as the date of the UK’s next general election More