The Prime Minister has called a surprise general election for 4 July, deviating from the anticipated autumn date that could have favoured the Conservatives in closing the gap with Labour.

The election announcement was made outside 10 Downing Street following speculation spurred by lower inflation figures, which the Prime Minister highlighted as evidence of economic recovery. This marks the first July election since 1945.

Labour, leading significantly in opinion polls, has asserted its readiness for the campaign, despite the shortened timeline which allows only two days for Parliament to pass pending legislation before it suspends this Friday. Sir Keir Starmer has welcomed the announcement, criticising the "Tory chaos" and advocating for change.

The election, the first to be held without a Parliamentary vote since 2015 due to legislative changes, will also be the first under new constituency boundaries and voter ID requirements.

The Royal Family has rescheduled engagements to avoid distracting from the campaign, with apologies issued to those affected. The backdrop to this election includes the tumultuous tenure of Boris Johnson, who resigned after multiple scandals, and his successor Liz Truss, who stepped down after only 49 days due to a financial crisis triggered by her mini Budget.

The Conservatives seek a fifth term, while the nation still recovers from political volatility and economic challenges.

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