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

Sir Keir Starmer said it was time for “change” as he responded to Rishi Sunak’s snap general election announcement.The prime minister confirmed the public will go to the polls on Thursday 4 July – earlier than many in Westminster expected.Within minutes, Sir Keir shared a video on social media – captioning it with one word – “change”.“Britain is a great and proud country, but after 14 years under the Tories, nothing seems to work anymore,” the Labour leader said.“The answer is not five more years of the Tories, they have failed… Britain deserves better than that.”He added that a “changed” Labour Party will “serve working people” and bring “economic stability”. 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

Sir Keir Starmer responded to Rishi Sunak’s snap general election announcement in a short press conference on Wednesday evening (22 May). The prime minister has confirmed the public will go to the polls on Thursday 4 July – earlier than many in Westminster expected. He made the announcement outside Downing Street in the pouring rain. Within minutes, Labour leader Sir Keir addressed the nation and called on Britons to vote for “change” and “turn the page”.”It will feel like a long campaign, I’m sure of that. But no matter what else is said and done, that opportunity for change is what this election is about,” he said. 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

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