Rishi Sunak will call general election for July in surprise move - sources

[muriel_volestrangler]

Rishi Sunak will on Wednesday afternoon call a surprise early election for July, senior sources have told the Guardian, a contest that will see Keir Starmer try to take power for Labour after 14 years of Conservative-led government.

The prime minister is set to announce the election will be in the early summer, with speculation that it will be held on 4 July, after claiming inflation was back under control and the economy was improving.

Labour is about 20 points ahead in the polls and Starmer is widely expected to become the next prime minister after transforming his party since its historic election defeat almost five years ago.

Sunak will make the announcement after a day of febrile speculation in Westminster, triggered by rare good economic news for the government and an unusually timed cabinet meeting, with senior ministers changing their plans to attend.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/may/22/rishi-sunak-will-call-general-election-for-july-in-surprise-move-sources

4:48: Rishi Sunak is going to make the election announcement outside No 10 at 5pm.
...
5:00: According to Beth Rigby from Sky News, Rishi Sunak will be making his statement from inside No 10 because it is raining.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2024/may/22/uk-general-election-july-2024-sunak-starmer-senior-sources-say-uk-politics-live-news

Traditionally, you call tell it's election-related because they use a podium without a government symbol on. Maybe they're having to move it around indoors.

Link to tweet

"Gift for the sketch writers - it is absolutely CHUCKING IT DOWN in Downing Street while they're getting ready for the announcement"

[Jerry2144]

1. This means the Brits will have

A reason to celebrate July 4th, too

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. If the 4th is right. He's talking (outside) now

and has just said it is 4th July.

Someone is doing excellent trolling by playing "Things Can Only Get Better" very loudly, very nearby. This was played when Labour won in 1997.

[Celerity]

3. Kick Out The Tories

Newtown Neurotics - Kick Out The Tories

Label: CNT Productions – CNT 004, No Wonder Records – NOW 5
Format: Vinyl, 7", Single
Country: UK
Released: 1982
Genre: Rock
Style: Punk

[Emrys]

4. Not really much of a surprise - it's been telegraphed for weeks

If there is a surprise, it's that he finally did something decisive.

I guess the prospect of a summer with the Rwanda policy doing nothing to address immigrants arriving by boat, the prospect of more resignations or defections among Tory MPs, no green shoots of recovery sprouting, and no prospect of a tax cut/bribe till the autumn was more that Sunak could stomach and he decided to cut short the misery. He'll be fine whatever happens.

There's also a chance that he knows of more bad news a short way down the pike, and the timing's the best of a bunch of bad choices he faced.

In terms of visuals and symbolism, he was visibly drenched without the nous to wear a raincoat or have an umbrella to hand, and only an extra slick of hair oil between him and the heavens opening.

Spongebob Torypants.