Markus Andrews

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 snap election for 4 July, following months of speculation about when the country would go to the polls.Previously, chancellor, Jeremy Hunt suggested that the general election could be held in October.And in March, Labour leader Keir Starmer accused Mr Sunak of “bottling” a 2 May general election, which could have been called to coincide with council and mayoral elections being held across the country.Now, it appears the prime minister has decided that improved economic figures and the prospect of flights heading to Rwanda could make up the difference with Labour’s huge lead in the polls.Parties will have up to four weeks to convince Brits to vote for them in the ballots.But why is Mr Sunak calling a snap election now? What significance will the date have on the results? And can we make any reasonable predictions on the outcome?If you have a question on the local elections or, once they come in, the results, submit it now, or when I join you live at 12pm on Thursday 23 May for the “Ask Me Anything” event.Register to submit your question in the comments box under this article.Scroll down or click here to leave your comment.If you’re not already a member, click “sign up” in the comments section to leave your question. For a full guide on how to comment click here.Don’t worry if you can’t see your question – they may be hidden until I join the conversation to answer them. Then join us live on this page at 1pm as I tackle as many questions as I can. More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailAfter a day of fervent speculation, Rishi Sunak has finally called a snap general election on July 4.Mr Sunak confirmed the news in a speech outside No 10. Almost upstaged by the rain – and pranksters loudly playing D:Ream’s ‘Things Can Only Get Better’, closely associated with Tony Blair’s 1997 Labour victory – the prime minister reminisced on his time in office, before making the big announcement.Before now, the prime minister had resisted calls to go to the polls, despite constant pressure from the Labour Party to do so over the past year.Follow The Independent’s live coverage for the latest updatesHowever, it is speculated that Mr Sunak had been waiting for an opportune time to make his move. Bolstered by the positive downturn in inflation to 3.2 per cent, it appears his mark has been met.Taking a swipe at the Labour Party, the prime minister said: “I don’t know what they offer”, adding “they have no plan, there is no bold action, and as a result the future can only be uncertain”.Responding to the news, Labour leader Keir Starmer released a video saying “it’s time for change”.“They have failed. Give the Tories five more years, and things will only get worse,” he said.While neither party has released an official election manifesto yet, as they will only come after an election is officially called, both have dropped hints and promises over the course of the past few years, which offer a clue for their vision for the country.See how the parties are doing in the latest polls. Here’s where the UK’s two largest parties stand on some of the key issues:Economic policies have been a focal point of Mr Sunak’s premiership, making up three of the Conservatives’ five key priorities. They are: reduce inflation, grow the economy, and reduce national debt.The first of these aims has largely been achieved, with inflation falling since the pledge was made, from 10.1 per cent to 2.3 per cent, although it is still above the Bank of England’s target of 2 per cent.However, the respected IFS economic think tank has questioned Mr Sunak’s taking credit for the economic good fortune, with director Paul Johnson arguing that it is the Bank of England’s job to cut inflation and that the prime minister’s pledge was always “inappropriate”.The economy has shown signs of growth since Mr Sunak’s pledges were made, with the economy forecast to have grown 0.5 per cent in 2023, and wages rising steadily. However, debt has risen to 89.9 per cent of GDP, up from 85.1 per cent in late 2023, when the prime minister promised to reduce it.Jeremy Hunt delivers a speech on May 17, 2024 More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailNow that Rishi Sunak has set a date for the general election, which of the two main parties is leading on the important questions that will help define who wins the keys to Number 10? The economy – Labour The prime minister hailed today’s news that inflation has fallen as a major moment for the economy and proof that his plan is working. But the truth is he and his party have struggled to recover from the economic disaster that was Liz Truss’s mini-Budget. Experts warn millions of households across the country are struggling with huge mortgage bills after the average two-year fixed rate jumped to more than 6 per cent, although it has since fallen somewhat. On top of a cost of living crisis, British households are on course to be worse off at the end of this parliament than they were at the start of the term for the first time in modern history, economists warned last November. Last week the chancellor tried to turn his fire on the opposition, arguing that taxes would go up under a Labour government. But shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves described that claim as “a bit rich”, with the tax burden under the Tories at a 70-year high. The PM will want to talk up good economic news at this election – but the key question will be, do voters feel it? Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer will now battle it out for the keys to No 10 More

Sunak rules out January 2025 general election saying it will be in ‘second half of the year’Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailRumours of a snap election are growing in Westminster following the announcement of a possible summer contest. Foreign secretary David Cameron fueled speculation when he cut his trip to Albania short, and defence secretary Grant Shapps also delayed his flight to attend a Nato meeting in Lithuania. A Cabinet meeting has senior Conservatives clearing space in their diaries with the urgent meeting expected around 4pm. The prime minister is believed to be addressing the nation at 5pm.Earlier Rishi Sunak did little to quail speculation of an early election when asked by the SNP Westminster leader during today’s PMQs. The PM said: “There will be a general election in the second half of this year.”At the Commons, Mr Sunak was keen to highlight the latest announcement that inflation figures have fallen to 2.3 per cent – the lowest in almost three years – but the news has been overshadowed by recent scandals. Show latest update 1716389352Rishi Sunak under threat of no confidence vote, Tory rebels revealTory rebel sources have revealed MPs are writing up letters for a no confidence vote against the prime minister, BBC Newsnight Nicholas Wyatt writes. Spiraling rumours of an imminent general election announcement seem to have sparked anger among members of the Conservative party. One source said: “Panic in the tea room. Nobody was expecting this. Everyone is mortified.”Salma Ouaguira22 May 2024 15:491716387676Exclusive: Election madness in Westminster MPs now believe that Rishi Sunak is on the cusp of calling a general election at 5pm this afternoon.A civil servant and a minister have separately briefed that an election announcement is “going to happen” as the cabinet gets ready to meet for an emergency session at 4pm.Both foreign secretary Lord Cameron and defence secretary Grant Shapps have cancelled meetings for the cabinet meeting and it is expected that the prime minister will address the nation at 5pm.Speculation of a reshuffle instead is being dismissed as unlikely.One MP said: “Calling the whole cabinet together is not the way to conduct a reshuffle.”However, Tory MPs are furious about the prospect of an election which will force many of them to cancel planned holidays next week.One senior backbencher said: “This is utter madness. The Tory party is not ready, MPs are not ready.“We need a break. This was the last chance for many to have a proper holiday.“It shows that the PM does not give a s*** about backbenchers.“I am not sure the party is ready yet to fight this election anyway.”Salma Ouaguira22 May 2024 15:211716387214Cameron cuts Albania trip shortIf the foreign secretary abandoned all of this, it must only mean he has urgent business to attend in London.Salma Ouaguira22 May 2024 15:131716387075Poll: Labour leads at 23 points ahead of the Tories; Lib Dems and Reform both at 12%Alicja Hagopian22 May 2024 15:111716386998Comment: If Rishi Sunak fails to call an election this afternoon, he could be copying ‘bottler’ Gordon BrownSpeculation is rife in Westminster as we await an unknown announcement from Downing Street at 5pm, writes John Rentoul.Salma Ouaguira22 May 2024 15:091716385993A General election on Thursday July 4?With speculations growing, many are wondering what would happen if Rishi Sunak calls an early election to be held on Thursday 4 July. If that’s the case, the prime minister would have to cancel next week’s recess. And this means parliament would have to dissolve. Salma Ouaguira22 May 2024 14:531716385348Jeremy Hunt pulls out of ITV show appearanceThe Chancellor was due to be interviewed by Robert Peston on Peston. But the ITV presenter has now announced it is no longer happening. Salma Ouaguira22 May 2024 14:421716385245Watch: funny moment Jeremy Hunt’s phone rings during his live TV interview with Martin LewisThe chancellor was asked when banks are going to cut interest rates following a fall in inflation when he appeared on Good Morning Britain on Wednesday (22 May).Responding to the question, he said: “It’s obviously going in the right direction, and that is very encouraging, and when….”Mr Hunt was then interrupted by the sound of his mobile phone ringing.Taking the phone out of his pocket, he apologised and said “Excuse me for a moment”.Mr Lewis joked: “It is the prime minister on the phone.”Jeremy Hunt’s phone rings during live TV interviewSalma Ouaguira22 May 2024 14:401716385125Labour on Sunak’s general election announcement: ‘Get on with it’Sir Keir Starmer is reportedly excited to hear a possible general election date announced later today. A spokesperson said that the opposition is “ready to go”, saying: “We have a fully organised and operational campaign ready to go, and we think the country is crying out for a general election.”They added they would “urge the prime minister to get on with it”.But they cautioned: “We’ve seen the prime minister has repeatedly marched us up this hill and then bottled it at the last minute when it comes to calling an election.“But when it comes to it, however long he keeps delaying it he cannot avoid the verdict of the British public, which recognises that this is a government that has failed over the last 14 years and believes that it’s time for a change.”They added they “look forward to having the opportunity to put our case to the public”.Salma Ouaguira22 May 2024 14:381716384806General Election: Whitehall sources say Tories have no reason to wait One insider has suggested that calling a summer election makes sense for the Conservative government, The Telegraph reports. They said: “I’ve always thought a summer election was likely: we’ve just had the infected blood announcement, the Horizon compensation announcement and the defence uplift.“That doesn’t leave a lot of money left for other priorities – so why wait?”Salma Ouaguira22 May 2024 14:33 More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster email Some positive economic figures and an atypical silence from government set Britain’s political rumor mill alight Wednesday with speculation that an election may be imminent.Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s office declined to quash the rumors and refused “to rule anything in or out” after reports that the prime minister planned to announce the U.K.’s long awaited election for the summer.Britain must hold a national election by January 2025, and Sunak has repeatedly said it will be in the back end of 2024.He stuck to that line Wednesday, answering a lawmaker’s question about whether there would be a summer vote: “Spoiler alert: There is going to be a general election in the second half of this year.”That could mean any time from July 1. Since British elections are usually held on Thursday, speculation has centered on July 4 as a potential date.Speculation mounted when Sunak called a Cabinet meeting for Wednesday afternoon – rather than the usual Tuesday – and Foreign Secretary David Cameron flew back early from a trip to Albania to attend.British elections must be held at least every five years, but the timing is the prime minister’s choice. If Sunak were to announce one, he’d make a courtesy call on King Charles III, then set a date for the dissolution of Parliament, the formal end of its term. An election would be held 25 working days later.Sunak’s Conservative Party has been in office since 2010, and polls suggest it lags well behind the center-left opposition Labour Party.He is the third Conservative prime minister since the last election in 2019. He took office through party selection in October 2022 after the turbulent terms of Boris Johnson – felled by ethics scandals – and Liz Truss, who caused economic turmoil with unfunded tax cuts.Sunak managed to steady the economy, but without boosting the Conservatives’ popularity with the public.He may take heart from figures released Wednesday showing inflation in the U.K. fell sharply to 2.3%, its lowest level in nearly three years on the back of big declines in domestic bills.The drop in April marks the greatest progress to date on five pledges Sunak made in January 2023, including halving inflation, which had climbed to above 11% at the end of 2022. Sunak hailed the figure as a sign his economic plan was working.Labour said “the country is crying out for a general election so would urge the prime minister to get on with it.” More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailRishi Sunak has refused to rule out a snap general election as his government is buoyed by a positive downturn in the rate of inflation.The prime minister said the fall in inflation, from 3.2 per cent to 2.3, shows there are “brighter days” ahead for the UK. This figure is the closest to the Bank of England’s 2 per cent inflation target since the prime minister took office in late 2022.Speculation is now rife in Westminster that Mr Sunak may call a snap general election soon, bolstered by the positive economic turn.So far, the prime minister has resisted calls to call an election, despite constant pressure from the Labour Party to do so.However, Mr Sunak has previously promised that the country would go to the polls in the second half of this year.It is likely the prime minister has been waiting for the opportune time to call an election, as his party lags behind in the polls. Boosted by economic good fortune, the time may now be soon.Below, The Independent looks at when a general election might be.The prime minister has been urged to call an election date for months More