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Rishi Sunak has dramatically announce that the general election will be held on July 4 after months of intense speculation.
Mr Sunak took Westminster by surprise by revealing the date following a year and a half of scutiny and questions over his leadership.
Standing in the rain, the prime minister used the covid crisis and his actions as chancellor as the backdrop for his achievements in on office.
He referenced the war in ukrane but insisted his plan to restore economic stability is working with “inflation back to normal” and the country’s economy growing faster than France, Germany and Italy.
Struggling to be heard over anti-Brexit protester blasting out Tony Blair’s 1997 election song It Can Only Get Better, Mr Sunak confirmed that he had spoken to the King who had agreed to dissolve parliament for an election on July 4.
He said: “I have stuck with the plan and always been honest with you even when it was difficult.”
Mr Sunak said it would be either him or Sir Keir Starmer who will be prime minister on July 5 saying: “Labour has no plan”.
His announcement came after factions within Downing Street had been vying between a “do or die” early pitch to the country or holding on til the autumn.
The prime minister is set to go early after positive economic news on Wednesday with inflation falling to 2.3 per cent, The Independent understands.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer responded with a video on social media saying: “It is time for change.”
He went on: “Britain is a great and proud country. But under 14 years under the Tories nothing seems to work anymore.
“Public services crumbling, families weighed down by higher mortgage rates, antisocial behaviour on our high streets. The list goes on and on.”
After the 2019 election saw voters turn away from Jeremy Corbyn, Sir Keir insisted: “The Labour Party has changed. we are reconnected to our purpose to serve working people as you drive our country forward with economic stability at the forefront of everything.”
During his tenure, the prime minister has faced resignations, defections and abysmal poll ratings, but until now had refused to name the date.
Current polling predicts a Labour landslide, as Sir Keir Starmer’s party sits around 20-points ahead in opinion polls.
More than 60 Conservative MPs have said they will stand down at the next general election, including former prime minister Theresa May.
Mr Sunak has struggled to maintain unity with his colleagues amidst five years of economic and party chaos.
The election was called after a day of fevered speculation in the Commons which took almost all MPs by surprise.
The first tangible signs came as foreign secretary Lord Cameron cut short an overseas trip and defence secretary Grant Shapps cancelled his plans to attend an emergency cabinet meeting at 4pm. Meanwhile, chancellor Jeremy Hunt pulled out of an interview with ITV’s Robert Peston.
The prime minister is expected to emerge at around 5pm in Downing Street to address the nation on the most momentous day of his political career.
But the prospect of an election announcement ahead of a planned recess week where many MPs had intended to take a break infuriated a number of Mr Sunak’s Tory colleagues.
With recess cancelled, one senior backbencher said: “This is utter madness. The Tory party is not ready, MPs are not ready. We need a break. This was the last chance for many to have a proper holiday.
“It shows that the PM does not give a s*** about backbenchers. I am not sure the party is ready yet to fight this election anyway.”
There had been signs last week that an early election could be in the offing when Rishi Sunak seemed to fire the gun on a long election campaign with a speech at Policy Exchange focussed on defence.
Later in the week, Sir Kir Starmer had his own launch with a rally to unveil a six point pledge card.
Mr Sunak became prime minister in October 2022 following the removal of his predecessor – Liz Truss – who was ousted after just 49 days in power following her disastrous mini-budget, which sent the pound plummeting.
Prior to Ms Truss, the leadership was held by Boris Johnson, whose authority was undermined by a string of Partygate scandals, prompting his resignation.
Mr Johnson won the 2019 general election with a sweeping majority of 80 seats, securing him a comfortable position in parliament.
But Mr Johnson’s time in power came to a sticky end in 2022 following revelations of parties in Downing Street during the pandemic and allegations of sexual misconduct against his chief whip Chris Pincher.
Now the Conservative party is set to face the electorate and are predicted a mass wipeout as the public mood turns increasingly sour.
Liberal Democrat leader 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.
“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.
“The NHS has been brought to its knees, people’s mortgages and rents have soared by hundreds of pounds a month, and water companies have got away with pumping filthy sewage into our rivers and beaches. All because this Conservative Government is more interested in fighting between themselves than standing up for the needs of the country.
“Every vote for the Liberal Democrats at this election is a vote for a strong local champion who will stand up for your community and health services. It’s clear that in many seats across the country, the best way to beat the Conservatives is to vote for the Liberal Democrats.”
