British media reported on Wednesday, May 22, 2024 that a UK general election will be held on July 4, as sources indicated Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will announce the date following a cabinet meeting. Political editors from the BBC, ITV, Sky News, and The Guardian all confirmed that Sunak is expected to make the announcement in a statement from Downing Street.
This will be Sunak’s first public test since becoming leader of the Conservative Party in October 2022. The election, the third since the Brexit referendum in 2016, comes as Sunak aims to leverage improved economic data to appeal to voters grappling with the cost-of-living crisis.
Sunak has been focused on halving inflation, which had peaked above 11 percent at the end of 2022. Recent data shows inflation slowing to a near three-year low of 2.3 percent in March, leading Finance Minister Jeremy Hunt to assert, “This is proof that the plan is working.”
Political analysts suggest Sunak, despite trailing significantly in polls behind the Labour Party, may be attempting to capitalize on the improved economic outlook. Critics, however, argue that the economic improvements are largely due to global factors rather than domestic policy.
Sunak has previously avoided specifying an election date, mentioning only that it would occur in the second half of the year. Speculation intensified when Sunak and his top ministers, including Foreign Secretary David Cameron and Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, adjusted their schedules to attend a critical cabinet meeting.
Journalists and media crews have gathered at Downing Street in anticipation of the announcement, marking a significant moment in UK politics as Sunak seeks to solidify his leadership and address national challenges ahead of the election.
