By Ken Afor
British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, announced on Wednesday that a general election will be held on July 4, 2024, putting an end to months of speculation but not the gloomy predictions regarding the anticipated defeat of his government.
This election will mark the first time that Sunak, 44, faces the electorate as the leader of the country, following his appointment as the head of the largest party in parliament by Conservative MPs in October 2022.
The upcoming vote, which will be the third since the Brexit referendum in 2016, comes as Sunak attempts to capitalize on improving economic data to appeal to voters who have been burdened by the rising cost of living.
One of the former financier’s five key promises was to halve the historically high inflation rate of over 11 percent, which was recorded at the end of 2022, within a year’s time. This objective was achieved last year, and on Wednesday, inflation slowed to a near three-year low of 2.3 percent in March, prompting Finance Minister Jeremy Hunt to declare, “This is proof that the plan is working.”
In a statement delivered from Downing Street amid heavy rain after gathering his top ministers, Sunak announced that he had consulted with King Charles III and requested the dissolution of Parliament, paving the way for the general election.
“The king has granted this request and we will have a general election on July 4,” he said, adding: “Now is the moment for Britain to choose its future.”
Political analysts have increasingly suggested that Sunak, who is trailing badly in the polls against the main opposition Labour Party, could be attempting to seek a boost from the healthier economic outlook.
However, critics argue that the improved economic conditions have more to do with changes in the global economy rather than the government’s policies.
Previously, Sunak had deflected all efforts to announce a specific date, stating only that he would hold a general election in the second half of this year.
Speculation intensified again on Wednesday when Sunak and his top officials refused to deny fresh rumors that he was about to call an election on the back of the more positive economic data.
Rumors reached a fever pitch when former Prime Minister, David Cameron, who is currently the Foreign Secretary, was recalled from a trip to Albania and Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps postponed a trip to Eastern Europe to attend a cabinet meeting.
Further fueling the speculation, Hunt, canceled a scheduled television interview for Wednesday evening, according to ITV’s political editor, as journalists, photographers, and camera crews flocked to Downing Street.
