Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called a surprise early election for July 4 at Downing Street earlier today (May 22).
Sunak stood outside Number 10 and made a speech in heavy rain, announcing that he’d approached King Charles this morning to dissolve parliament ahead of a General Election.
During his speech, Sunak was largely drowned out by a sound system close by playing D:REAM’s ‘Things Can Only Get Better’, which was the election campaign song for Labour in 1997.
The move to an early election is seen as a high-risk move for the Conservative Party as it currently trails 20 points behind Labour in the polls.
Announcing the election, Sunak said this was “the moment for Britain to choose its future”.
He continued: “I hope that my work since I became prime minister shows that we have a plan and are prepared to take bold action necessary for our country to flourish. Now I’ve stuck with that plan and always been honest with you about what is needed even when that’s been difficult.”
He added: “I cannot and will not claim that we have got everything right. No government could, but I am proud of what we have achieved together, the bold actions we have taken. I’m confident about what we can do in the future.”
Starmer is widely expected to become the next Prime Minister after 14 years of Conservative rule.
After Sunak’s announcement, Starmer posted a video on X/Twitter, saying it was “time for change” and adding that five more years of the Tories would mean things could get worse. “Stop the chaos; turn the page; start to rebuild,” he said.
“After 14 years under the Tories, nothing seems to work any more. 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. Political chaos feeding decline, feeding chaos, feeding decline.”
Starmer added: “Only a changed Labour party will get Britain’s future back. And make no mistake, the Labour party has changed. Reconnected to our purpose: to serve working people as you drive our country forward, with economic stability at the forefront of everything we do. Country first, party second, always.”
Meanwhile, social media has been reacting to the news. Check out some of the responses below.
‘Things can only get better’ in the background is so fucking perfect.
— Kath (@KathyBurke) May 22, 2024
In case you might need it https://t.co/HGH8WjJgYU
— Tim Burgess (@Tim_Burgess) May 22, 2024
— Brian Cox (@ProfBrianCox) May 22, 2024
Rishi No Mac
— Rebecca Front (@RebeccaFront) May 22, 2024
we had a good run at Downing Street but both and amplifiers got soaked and blown. They lasted for the moment that mattered. pic.twitter.com/zH0LInQzaY
— GET TORIES DONE – GENERAL ELECTION NOW! (@snb19692) May 22, 2024
BREAKING: Rishi Sunak calls an election for July 4th as protestors blast out “Things Can Only Get Better” in the background and he’s slowly soaked with rain drops. pic.twitter.com/MylwALJtZe
— Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV) May 22, 2024
Rishi Sunak right now pic.twitter.com/xmlKmdEZug
— Neil Miles (@neilsmiles) May 22, 2024
“It’s easy to forget the scale of what we’ve been through,” says Rishi Sunak, who recently made it to the Sunday Times Rich List.
— Dominic Minghella (@DMinghella) May 22, 2024
Rishi Sunak announces a snap General Election on 4th July, or as he likes to think of it, Independence Day pic.twitter.com/yh7rigYSMZ
— Have I Got News For You (@haveigotnews) May 22, 2024
How absurd to say that Rishi Sunak looks like Roland Rat. He looks like Roddy, the rat from Flushed Away.
— David Baddiel (@Baddiel) May 22, 2024
This is a breaking news story – more to follow
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