Il Prime Minister Rishi Sunak he stared at the elections of the UK for 4th July. This announcement was a real shock, as Sunak had until January 2025 to set a date, and everyone expected the election to be announced between October and November, also considering the 20 point gap in favor of labor party in polls. Many, in fact, see the Labor leader Keir Starmer as the next prime minister after 14 years of Conservative government. Starmer revitalized his party by promising not to raise taxes and adopting a Western foreign policy. But Sunak is set to defy the odds, banking on a possible last-minute comeback that would be quite surprising. The most realistic goal for the Conservatives is to prevent Labor from gaining an overall majority, which would be almost a defeat in the British political system.
United Kingdom, Sunak calls early elections: here's why
In the pouring rain in front of the number 10 Downing Street, Sunak announced that British citizens will be called to the polls six months before the natural end of the legislature. In his address to the nation, the Conservative Prime Minister promised to "fight for every vote" and underlined the importance of choice for the future of the United Kingdom, urging us to continue the progress made rather than risk going back to square one without a clear plan in mind.
It doesn't seem like a logical move at first glance, but Sunak and his team are likely to have assessed that there is no time left to do better. After helping to restore the post-Brexit economy, the British Prime Minister wants to exploit the Forecasts economic rosier (not knowing how the situation could evolve in the future) and show firmness onimmigration, a very hot topic for voters, especially when landings (arriving from the Channel) are likely to increase during the summer.
Furthermore, July could be strategic for the Tories. In that week in Scotland, where the Conservatives are not popular, many people may be on holiday and less inclined to vote. Likewise, the Glastonbury Music Festival, notoriously unfavorable to the Tories, took place in those days. Consequently, bringing forward the election could reduce the damage of an electoral defeat that seems inevitable against Starmer and Labour.
By now the decision has been made and the British Prime Minister also communicated it to King Charles III, following tradition. The question now is whether Sunak can persuade voters that it is best not to change direction now that the UK is back on the road to recovery or whether they will instead opt for a new course led by the Labor Party.
