UK Politics

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailRishi Sunak ended months of speculation on Wednesday and announced a General Election on 4 July.The prime minister, outside the steps of 10 Downing Street in the pouring rain, said: “Now is the moment for Britain to choose its future.”However, research has suggested the Labour Party has consistently been ahead in opinion polls. On average, Labour is on 44 points, 21 ahead of the Conservatives. 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 Tories may also face more challenges with undecided voters and tactical voting. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was soaked while making a speech outside No 10 (Lucy North/PA) More

Rishi Sunak has explained why he decided to announce the general election date of 4 July while stood in the pouring rain on Wednesday, 22 May.The prime minister chose to make a statement at the lectern in front of the Downing Street steps rather than in the media briefing room that cost the taxpayer £2.6m, getting drenched in the process.Speaking to LBC the following morning, Mr Sunak said that his belief in tradition was behind his decision.“When you’re making a statement of that magnitude… I believe in just doing it in the traditional way, come rain or shine,” 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 has finally fired the starting gun on the general election campaign, stunning Westminster by calling a snap poll for 4 July, ending months of speculation about what date the vote would be held.In a speech in the pouring rain outside No 10 Downing Street, the prime minister defended his record on the economy, national security and immigration as he set out the key battleground issues he intends to campaign on over the next six weeks.The election, he said, would be a choice between himself and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who vowed to end Tory “chaos” and bring back economic “stability” during his own election address.Voters will indeed choose between the two party leaders at the ballot box. But they will also select new MPs – 650 to be precise – and there are several Conservative Party big beasts at risk of being ejected from the Commons, with Labour commanding a 21 per cent lead in the polls, according to one tracker.Jeremy HuntJeremy Hunt More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailThe Conservatives and Labour have held talks to work out what outstanding legislation can be rushed through parliament to become law before the Commons closes for the general election. Compensations for victims of the subpostmaster scandal This is due to become law after the House of Lords finished scrutinising it on Thursday. But an 11th hour attempt by peers to exonerate more subpostmasters caught up in the scandal has been quashed amid the scramble. Members of the Lords believed 13 cases of those whose convictions were upheld by the Court of Appeal, or were refused permission for their case to be heard, would be added to the remit of the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Bill, as part of backroom talks over the ‘wash-up. The ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office More

Rishi Sunak asked Welsh brewery staff if they were looking forward to football later this summer as a potential source of revenue, despite the national team not qualifying for the Euro 2024 tournament.The prime minister met voters at the Vale of Glamorgan Brewery in Barry with Wales secretary David TC Davies and Vale of Glamorgan MP Alun Cairns.Mr Sunak, who is teetotal, discussed his party’s support for the sector during a brief campaign stop.His question about the football was met with a brief moment of silence before laughter erupted. More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailThere was a noticeable lack of enthusiasm among Tory MPs expected to join Rishi Sunak in the ExCel in east London where he was holding his first rally. Instead, many chose to drown their sorrows.Several rolled their eyes when asked why they were not with the prime minister on Wednesday evening, consoling themselves with drinks in parliament’s Strangers Bar as the enormity of what had just happened sank in.Mr Sunak’s bold move to call an early general election on 4 July had caught nearly everyone by surprise, especially those who had planned a week’s break on a sunny beach well away from British shores and driving rain which had hours before soaked the prime minister.It did not take long though for a nickname for the election to emerge from the clatter of pints of beer, wine glasses and gin and tonics. One ex-minister said: “This really is the kamikaze election. We are not sure who will come out of this with their seats.”Prime Minister Rishi Sunak watching beer being bottled at the Vale of Glamorgan Brewery (Stefan Rousseau/PA) More

A Labour MP has claimed the rising prices of groceries such as milk and butter shows the Conservative’s economic plan is not working.Shadow paymaster general Jonathan Ashworth discussed his thoughts on Rishi Sunak calling a snap general election when he appeared on Politics Live on Thursday (23 May).Mr Ashworth said: “Rishi Sunak has been telling us the plan is working, but people are worse off.“Two years ago if you go to Asda a 250g of butter was £1.48 and it’s now £2.40.“If you’re going to tell the public they’ve never had it so good, I think you’ll find that attitude jars with real-life experiences.” More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailRichard Tice has claimed that the prime minister is “terrified” of Reform UK as his party challenges the Tories in every single seat.The Reform leader, who took over from Nigel Farage in 2021, attacked Mr Sunak’s admission that no asylum seekers would be sent to Rwanda before the 4 July contest.And he responded to a meme produced by the Conservative Party about Reform, saying it “proves how terrified they are”. “The more memes, the better,” Mr Tice said.His comments came after the launch of Reform’s general election campaign, in which Mr Tice accused the Conservatives of having “broken Britain”.Claiming he will win seats, but not saying how many, Mr Tice said he will fight the Tories in every seat in the UK excluding Northern Ireland – where Reform failed to register as a political party in time.Leader of Reform UK Richard Tice speaking during a General Election campaign launch (Lucy North/PA) More