Rishi Sunak calls snap general election for 4 July - the key moments

The general election on 4 July falls right in holiday season, with many wondering if they will still be able to vote if they're away.

Many people will potentially have holidays booked for when the schools break up, but it is still possible to vote in a general election even if you are not in the country.

People who know they are going to be abroad on the date of an election can vote by post or proxy - provided they are registered to vote in the first place.

Read more from the Independent.

The long-term future of the NHS will likely be a key battleground in the run up to the general election.

Recent polling suggests that the founding principles of the service are still staunchly backed by the British public.

But satisfaction with the NHS has dipped to record lows, indicating that politicians will have to persuade voters that their party will be the most likely to improve care for patients. The latest British Social Attitudes Survey – a long-running poll tracking the views of the public – found that only 24% of the public are satisfied with the NHS

The protester who played Things Can Only Get Better during Rishi Sunak’s election speech said he chose the New Labour tune because it was the “top trolling song for the Conservatives”.

Anti-Brexit campaigner Steve Bray said he selected the D:Ream song for its association with the Tory landslide defeat in the 1997 general election rather than as a show of support for Labour in the upcoming campaign.

He added that his protest outside Downing Street was paused when his two amplifiers became soaked and stopped working during heavy rain in Westminster

Read more from PA Media here.

Nigel Farage has said he will think “overnight” about whether he will be standing for the Reform UK in the upcoming general election.

There has been speculation that Farage, the party’s honorary president, could return to frontline politics for the election.

Speaking on GB News after the election announcement, he said: “Richard Tice has got [Reform] up and running, there are 500 candidates selected, he will get more. The whole plan for Reform was that it was a six-year plan – fight this election, get ready for when Labour fail, which they will.

“[Sir Keir] Starmer’s first cabinet will not have the competence that Blair’s first cabinet had by an absolute mile. Reform will fight the election. As for what I do, I’ll think about it overnight.”

A Sky News broadcast crew was removed from the ExCel Centre by security ahead of the Prime Minister’s speech at a Conservative campaign rally, PA Media reported.

Broadcaster Darren McCaffrey and his crew were escorted from the venue by two security guards, with the correspondent saying they had not been allowed in due to broadcast pooling arrangements.

Sunak's speech to the crowd of Conservative activists at the East London venue on Wednesday evening was met with a round of applause, with those attending holding up Vote Conservative placards as the PM greeted members of his Cabinet.

Health organisations and charities have called for clarity on what impact the general election will have on bills concerning the infected blood scandal.

Particular concerns have been raised about the speed at which the Victims and Prisoners Bill – which will legally establish a compensation body for victims of the infected blood scandal – will pass through the House of Commons.

Jason Evans, director of the Factor 8 campaign group, said: “The Victims and Prisoners Bill must be included in the wash-up, or we will have been fobbed off once again. This whole thing is a mess, and I cannot begin to explain the mass confusion and anger among victims at this time. They feel betrayed and lied to, again."

Wash-up is the opportunity for Parliament to get through any unfinished business before it is dissolved.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt confirmed he will stand in the general election, and said on X he would “fight with every bone in my body” to get Rishi Sunak re-elected.

He added: “I will also stand for election in Godalming and Ash where I am proud of my local record and excited that the new boundaries include the town I went to school and the village I grew up in.

“It is a highly marginal seat so I will fight hard for every single vote!”

Church of England leaders made a plea for respect and kindness “even in the heat of the debate”.

In a joint statement, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell urged that “no matter how big the issues” at stake over the coming weeks, the upcoming period should be “a time marked by respect for one another, for good grace and a commitment to truth and integrity”.

They said the forthcoming election would be a “critical moment in the life of our nation, which will shape our future by electing those who will make decisions affecting generations to come”, adding: “It is our prayer that, even in the heat of the debate, we will treat each other with respect and kindness."

The forthcoming general election will be the first held in July since Clement Attlee swept to power in a Labour landslide after the end of Second World War hostilities in Europe, ousting Winston Churchill.

The 1945 election – which took place on 5 July – came within two months of VE Day and initiated a political transformation that saw the creation of the NHS and the building of social housing.

Parliament was dissolved only three weeks before Britons went to the polls, in contrast to the six weeks to go until 4 July this year.

The Labour Party gained a 145-seat majority and the Liberal Party leader, Archibald Sinclair, lost his seat. The Conservatives lost 189 seats.

Rishi Sunak was accused of excluding the deaf community by not having a sign language interpreter with him when he called the general election.

According to the hearing charity RNID, Downing Street pledged to have British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters on hand for big announcements from spring 2024.

However, there was no interpreter in sight when Mr Sunak made his announcement outside Number 10 on Wednesday afternoon.

Former prime minister Boris Johnson is “strongly supporting” the Conservative Party and urges “everybody to do the same”, a spokesman said.

It comes after speculation that the ex-MP might appear on the Tory campaign trail in the run-up to a vote.

A spokesman for Mr Johnson said: “Boris Johnson is, as always, strongly supporting the Conservatives and encourages everybody to do the same.”

Responding to the Prime Minister calling an election for July 4, Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey said: “This General Election is a chance to kick Rishi Sunak’s appalling Conservative Government out of office and deliver the change the public is crying out for.'

He said: “For years the Conservative Party has taken voters for granted and lurched from crisis to crisis while the problems facing the country are getting so much worse."

Rishi Sunak began his address by reflecting on the Covid pandemic.

He said: “In the last five years our country has fought through the most challenging times since the Second World War.

“As I stand here as your Prime Minister, I can’t help but reflect that my first proper introduction to you was just over four years ago. I stood behind one of the podiums upstairs in the building behind me.

“I told you that we faced a generation-defining moment and that we as a society could not be judged by some Government action, but by the small acts of kindness we showed one another.

“You met that challenge and then some, and I had never been prouder to be British.”

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer shared a video via X, formerly Twitter, with a single word: 'Change'.

In the video, he pointed to issues he blamed on the Conservatives, saying: "Nothing seems to work anymore", adding: "They have failed".

The Labour Party tweeted a slick video of its leader saying: “Britain is a great and proud country. But after 14 years under the Tories, nothing seems to work anymore.

“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. The answer is not five more years of the Tories. They have failed.

“Give the Tories five more years and things will only get worse. Britain deserves better than that.”

Announcing a general election, Rishi Sunak said: “This hard earned economic stability was only ever meant to be the beginning, the question now is how and who do you trust to turn that foundation into a secure future for you, your family, and our country?

“Now is the moment for Britain to choose its future, to decide whether we want to build on the progress we have made or risk going back to square one with no plan and no certainty.

“Earlier today I spoke with His Majesty the King to request the dissolution of Parliament.

“The King has granted this request and we will have a general election on July 4.”

Sunak made his announcement in pouring rain, getting visibly soaked as he stood at the lectern outside 10 Downing Street.

D.Ream song Things can only get Better – used by Tony Blair's Labour Party as their 1997 election anthem – could be heard playing on loudspeakers from outside Number 10 as Sunak delivered his speech.

You need to be over the age of 16 and a British citizen to register to vote.

You can register online on the government's website. The form takes five minutes and you will need your national insurance number.

Despite being able to register to vote at 16 you must be 18 to vote in a general election.

A lectern has been set up outside Number 10 Downing Street in preparation for an announcement.

The lectern bears no Government crest in a further sign of Rishi Sunak’s expected plans to call a general election.

The royal seal, which indicates an announcement relating to government rather than party business, is absent from the front of the podium.

Rishi Sunak is currently the 44th longest-serving prime minister out of 57 - and a 4 July election means he won't move any further up the list.

Still, his tenure has been significantly longer than Liz Truss, who holds the title as the shortest-lived PM at 49 days.

The Guardian reported that sources had told the newspaper that Rishi Sunak wants to hold a summer election following his announcement that inflation is back under control and the economy is improving.

According to the newspaper, government insiders suggested that the PM had been persuaded it would be better to announce an election now, given that the economy is unlikely to improve significantly before the autumn, and the ongoing controversy around his Rwanda scheme.

Journalist Emily Maitlis appeared to confirm that 4 July is the date for a general election, saying: "It’s on ! July 4th. Just had this from 3 people in last minute."

With less than an hour to go until an official announcement, there remains to be official confirmation from Downing Street but journalists close to Westminster seem increasingly confident in a July election.

Tim Shipman, chief political commentator at the Sunday Times, appeared to agree that a Tory revolt could be looming in the wake of a sudden election announcement.

He also revealed that ministers had been told to attend a cabinet meeting at 4pm "on pain of death", but had not been told what they would be discussing.

He later joked that X - formerly Twitter - and his own WhatsApp inbox was a "doom loop of journalists, Labour advisers, cabinet ministers and spads [special advisors] all asking each other what we know", pointing out that that remained nothing concrete.

Other sources suggested that shockwaves are rippling behind the scenes ahead of the 5pm announcement.

BBC Newsnight's political editor Nicholas Watt reported that sources had told him there was "panic in the tea room", with suggestions that there were already calls for a vote of no confidence in Sunak.

There has still been no confirmation that the PM definitely plans to call a general election - but with so much speculation his party are undoubtedly concerned not only by the timing given they are trailing in the polls, but also the shock of the sudden announcement.

ITV News political editor Robert Peston, who had previously predicted an election date of November, also changed his tune on Wednesday, joining in speculation.

While he insisted in one post on X, formerly Twitter, that: "We honestly don't know if there's going to be an election called or not ..." he said later that he was "even more confident that an early election is coming" than he was before lunchtime on Wednesday, adding: "If I subsequently look an eejit, so be it."

He cited suggestions that the final stages of the finance bill are being "rushed through" tomorrow which he said would be "consistent with a 4 July general election".

TalkTV presenter Peter Cardwell said he had heard from two "decent sources" that there would be an announcement to the press from the prime minister at 5pm today in Downing Street.

While speculation is that a press announcement could be to call a general election, it could be to announce a cabinet reshuffle or something else, so an announcement doesn't automatically mean an election.