UK general election to take place on July 4

Rishi Sunak has called a general election for July 4.

The Prime Minister confirmed the date outside Downing Street and said the country will go to the polls this summer.

He said: “This hard-earned economic stability was only ever meant to be the beginning, the question now is how and who do you trust to turn that foundation into a secure future for you, your family, and our country?

“Now is the moment for Britain to choose its future, to decide whether we want to build on the progress we have made or risk going back to square one with no plan and no certainty.”

The move comes as the Tories trail Labour by 20 points in the polls and face being booted out of Downing Street by the Opposition after 14 years in government.

Sunak has been saying for months an election would happen in the “second half of the year” but had refused to set a date.

Before today, many thought that November would be the date for the next general election, with some expecting the PM to wait for as long as possible ahead of a final possible date of January 2025.

The Conservatives face a tough battle to hold onto power, with recent polls putting Labour as far as 27 points ahead of the Tories in the polls.

In response to today’s news, Labour leader Keir Starmer shared his first campaign video within minutes of the announcement being made.

 “Britain is a great and proud country, but after 14 years under the Tories, nothing seems to work anymore,” he said.

“Public services crumbling, ambulances that don’t come, families weighed down by higher mortgage rates, antisocial behaviour on our high streets – the list goes on and on.”

History could also be on Labour’s side – the last general election to take place in July was 1945, which resulted in Clement Attlee creating the transformative Labour government that established institutions like the NHS.