Announcing the 4 July date, the Prime Minister says that the UK economy is growing and inflation has returned to normal. Mr Sunak added that interest rates have come down and the government’s plan is working.
Mr Sunak says the war in Ukraine has threatened global security but while there are uncertain times ahead he and his government have a clear plan.
He says that the question now is “who do you trust”. It is the moment to decide Britain’s future, he says, to decide whether you want to “build on the future you’ve made or risk going back to square one”.
In a written statement, Downing Street said: “The Prime Minister has today asked His Majesty The King to proclaim the Dissolution of Parliament. His Majesty has been graciously pleased to signify that He will comply with this request.
“Parliament will be prorogued on Friday 24 May. Dissolution will take place on Thursday 30 May. The General Election will take place on Thursday 4July. The new Parliament will be summoned to meet on Tuesday 9 July, when the first business will be the election of the Speaker and the swearing-in of members, and the State Opening will be on Wednesday 17 July.
“Parliament will dissolve on 30 May as a pre-election period begins”.
In response to Mr Sunak’s announcement, Labour party leader, Sir Kier Starmer said: “Tonight the Prime Minister has finally announced the next General Election. A moment the country needs – and has been waiting for. And where, by the force of our democracy power returns to you.
“A chance to change for the better. Your future. Your community. Your country.
“It will feel like a long campaign – I’m sure of that. But no matter what else is said and done. That opportunity for change is what this election is about.
“Over the course of the last four years – we have changed the Labour Party. Returned it once more to the service of working people.
“All we ask now – humbly – is to do exactly the same for our country. And return Britain to the service of working people.”
The election will be fought on different constituency boundaries. Wales’ 40 constituencies are being cut to 32 under a redesign of the constituency to make the sizes more equal.
Wales currently has some of the smallest constituencies in the UK, with the Boundary Commission saying the changes bring it in line with new UK Government recommendations that seats should have between 69,724 and 77,062 voters.
Responding to the news, Andrew RT Davies MS, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, said: “Keir Starmer says Wales is his blueprint for government, and while the Conservatives are delivering for Wales, Labour’s record in Wales stands as a stark warning to the rest of the United Kingdom.
“We have a Labour First Minister mired in controversy for taking dirty money, for ideologically motivated 20mph speed limits, and for his out of touch plans to spend £120 million on 36 more politicians.
“Thanks to Labour, Wales has the longest NHS waiting lists in the UK, the lowest employment in the UK, and the worst educational standards in the UK.
“The Welsh Conservatives will take the message to the country that our economic plan is working, and because Labour cannot be trusted to run Wales, they cannot be trusted to run our United Kingdom.”
Speaking in a video on X (formally twitter), Welsh Labour First Minister Vaughan Gething said: “Rishi Sunak has finally come to the same conclusion as the rest of the country: a General Election is needed now. People across Wales are calling out for a change of government, an end to Tory chaos and two Labour governments working together – for Wales and Britain.”
Commenting, the Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS said:“After months of speculation and rumours, Rishi Sunak has finally decided to face the music by calling a general election for this Summer.
“It’s about time the public had a say in who is running the country, after years of Conservative chaos and disorder we have finally been given the chance to show them the door.
“This is a chance for the electorate to send a message to both Westminster and Cardiff Bay that they want to see some meaningful change.
“Make no mistake, neither the Conservatives or Labour offer anything different from the current status quo.
“The Liberal Democrats have always had a proud history of standing up for the interests of people here in Wales, and this will not change.
“This is not only an opportunity to kick the Conservatives out of Westminster but also our chance to send a message to the Welsh Labour government that Wales will not put up with their nonsense for much longer.”
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