Britain's general election will be held on July 4 as Rishi Sunak looks to extend his party’s 14 years in power, despite dire opinion polls for the Prime Minister, which are projecting a landslide Labour victory.
It is the fourth general election called by a Conservative prime minister since David Cameron took power in 2010.
In his announcement, Mr Sunak defended his time in office and said re-electing his party would secure the future for Britain.
Mr Sunak asked the question: "Who do you trust to turn that foundation to secure a future for you, your family, and our country?
Opposition leader Keir Starmer said the election was long overdue after years of government infighting and poor economic performance. "Political chaos feeding decline, feeding chaos, feeding decline. The answer is not five more years of the Tories," he said. "They have failed.
"Give the Tories five more years and things will only get worse. Britain deserves better than that."
Debate
Mr Sunak and Mr Starmer came head to head during their first debate on Tuesday, in a combative exchange in which the Prime Minister claimed Labour's policies would "amount to a £2,000 [$2,500] tax rise for everyone".
On Wednesday, it emerged that the Treasury's permanent secretary, James Bowler, said ministers had been told not to suggest civil servants produced the figure at the heart of the Tory attack.
As the Prime Minister doubled down on the attack with an online advert, Labour accused him of being a "desperate liar".
Mr Sunak also claimed the Conservative party had brought inflation under control, wages were growing and that his party would cut taxes, while Mr Starmer, whose advisers later said he “clearly connected with the audience”, blamed former prime minister Liz Truss’ short administration for “crashing the economy”, but failed to deny the tax rise claim at the time.
A snap poll from YouGov suggested the Prime Minister performed marginally better, with 51 per cent making him the winner against 49 per cent for Mr Starmer among people who expressed a preference.
But a Savanta survey pointed to a more convincing victory for Mr Starmer on 53 per cent, ahead of Mr Sunak on 47 per cent, excluding those who said they did not know.
"It felt like the Prime Minister had the upper hand at times – in particular towards the end of the debate – and although our figures suggest he lost narrowly, he probably still outperformed expectations," Chris Hopkins, political research director at Savanta, said in a statement.
Rishi Sunak through the years – in pictures
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British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announces July 4 as the date for the 2024 general election at No 10 Downing Street. Here, The National looks back at his political career. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak during local election campaigning in Teesside in May 2024. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak presents cupcakes to journalists on board a plane on the way to Warsaw in April 2024. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak during a press conference in Downing Street in January after the Safety of Rwanda Bill passed its third reading in the House of Commons. Getty Images -
Being applauded after his speech at the Conservative Party conference in October 2023. Getty Images -
Looking pensive alongside then-home secretary Suella Braverman at No 10 in October 2023. She didn't last much longer in the cabinet. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak sits in an old Special Branch police vehicle which was used to transport former prime minister Margaret Thatcher, in July 2023. Getty Images -
On board Border Agency cutter HMC Seeker during a visit to Dover in June 2023. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during the G7 Summit in May 2023. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty arriving in Japan ahead of the G7 Summit in May 2023. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt sending a message at Accrington Market Hall in January 2023. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet in Ukraine's capital Kyiv in November 2022. Getty Images -
King Charles III welcomes Mr Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government in October 2022. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak makes a statement outside No 10 in October 2022 after taking office. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak arrives inside Number 10 in October 2022. Photo: Simon Walker/ No 10 Downing Street -
Greeted by colleagues at Conservative Party HQ after having been announced winner of the leadership contest in October 2022. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak at Westminster Hall in London following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. PA -
Mr Sunak visits his family's old business, Bassett Pharmacy, on the campaign trail in August 2022. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak looks at an NLAW anti-tank launcher during a visit to the Thales Defence System plant in Belfast in August 2022. Getty Images -
At a hustings event in Exeter in August 2022. Getty Images -
Celebrates England's first goal as he watches the Women's Euro 2022 final in Salisbury in July 2022. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak and Ms Truss take part in the BBC Leadership debate at Victoria Hall, Hanley, in July 2022. Getty Images -
With daughters Krisna and Anoushka and wife Akshata Murthy in July 2022. Getty Images -
Opening the Great Ayton Village Fete during the queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak and Ms Murthy speak to then-Prince Charles at a British Asian Trust event in February 2022. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak arrives at COP26 in Glasgow in November 2021 when he was chancellor. Getty Images -
Holding the budget box as he departs 11 Downing Street to deliver his Autumn Budget in October 2021. Getty Images -
At a press conference on the 2021 Budget in London in March 2021. Getty Images -
With former prime minister Boris Johnson during a visit to PD Ports on the River Tees in March 2021. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak poses with the budget box at 11 Downing Street in March 2021. Getty Images -
Meeting staff back at work after being furloughed at Hamleys toy shop in London, December 2020. Photo: HM Treasury -
Mr Sunak visits the Imperial Clinic Research Facility at Hammersmith Hospital, London, in November 2020. Getty Images -
Lighting a candle for Diwali on Downing Street, November 2020. Getty Images -
Working on a speech in his flat above 11 Downing Street in November 2020. Photo: HM Treasury -
Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak visit the headquarters of Octopus Energy in London in October 2020. Getty Images -
With his 'Winter Economy Plan' outside 11 Downing Street in September 2020. AFP -
Decorating a plate at Emma Bridgewater pottery in Stoke pottery in September 2020. Getty Images -
Promoting 'eat out to help out' on the Isle of Bute, Scotland, in August 2020. Getty Images -
A member of the public takes a selfie with Rishi Sunak during a visit to Scotland in August 2020. AFP -
Visiting a Wagamama restaurant in central London in July 2020. Photo: HM Treasury -
Rishi Sunak visits a Pret A Manger in Westminster in July 2020. HM Treasury -
With Mr Johnson at his first Cabinet meeting after a reshuffle at 10 Downing Street in February 2020. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak speaks during a general election debate in Cardiff in November 2019. Getty Images
Surprise entry
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage provided the first surprise of the campaign this week, announcing he would not only be standing as a candidate, after previously ruling it out, but saying he will take over as leader of the party.
Mr Farage said the election needed a bit of “gingering up”, as he described it as “the dullest, most boring election campaign we have ever seen in our lives”.
Addressing hundreds of supporters at a rally in Clacton-on-Sea on Tuesday before a milkshake was thrown at him, Mr Farage said the Tories should "pay a big price" for betraying the promises of Brexit.
"We made an offer to the British people, we could get back our independence and control of our borders," he said.
"But what has happened? The Conservatives have betrayed that trust. They've opened up the borders to mass immigration like we've never seen before. And they deserve to pay a price for that, a big price for that."
The BBC confirmed Mr Farage will join the next election debate, which takes place this Friday and involves seven parties.
Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt will represent the Conservative Party, facing off against deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner and others.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey will also not be attending, with his deputy Daisy Cooper stepping in.
They will be joined by Stephen Flynn of the SNP, Carla Denyer of the Green Party and Rhun ap Iorwerth of Plaid Cymru.
Who will win?
Labour is clear favourite in the next election, potentially setting the stage for its return to power for the first time since 2010.
Currently, the Tories have 344 seats in parliament and Labour have 205. Parties need at least 326 seats to create the slimmest of majorities.
Three nationwide opinion polls published this week give the Labour party leads of between 17 per cent and 26 per cent.
An average of all polls that were carried out wholly or partly during the seven days to June 4 puts Labour on 45 per cent, 21 points ahead of the Conservatives on 24 per cent, followed by Reform UK on 12 per cent, the Liberal Democrats on 9 per cent and the Greens on 5 per cent.
A development in recent months has been the rise in popularity of the right-leaning Reform party, which was averaging about 6 per cent last summer and is now close to double that rating, at 11 per cent.
Mr Sunak can say he has made progress on his five pledges, which centred on economic recovery and limiting migration, particularly from boats through the English Channel.
Britain last held a general election in 2019 when prime minister Boris Johnson swept into power with a massive parliamentary majority.
His leadership was successful in taking Britain out of the EU but was marred by allegations over his personal conduct during the coronavirus pandemic.
Following his resignation, he was replaced by Liz Truss who herself stepped down in 2022 after financial markets revolted against her economic plans.
Mr Sunak, who served as Mr Johnson's chancellor, has since struggled in the polls, with voters expressing concerns over inflation, migration and the conflict in Ukraine.
It follows a difficult period for the Conservatives, who have suffered two defections by back bench MPs and a drubbing at the local elections this month.
Keir Starmer through the years – in pictures
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Keir Starmer has been the Labour party's leader since 2020, and is now the UK's prime minister. Here The National looks back through his political career. Getty Images -
Mr Starmer speaking in Westminster, London, in May after Rishi Sunak announced the general election for July 4. AP -
Mr Starmer speaks to Labour supporters at Harlow Town Football Club's stadium in Essex, on the eve of local elections in May. Getty Images -
Mr Starmer talks to Dan Poulter at the Francis Crick Institute in London in April, after the MP had defected from the Conservative Party to Labour. Getty Images -
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Mr Starmer during the launch of Mr Khan's mayoral re-election campaign in March, which proved successful. Getty Images -
Mr Starmer addresses the Labour Business Conference in London in February. Getty Images -
Mr Starmer and Mr Sunak at the Palace of Westminster for the State Opening of Parliament in November 2023. Getty Images -
Mr Starmer addresses delegates at the National Annual Women's Conference in Liverpool in October 2023. Getty Images -
Mr Starmer with his shadow cabinet in London in September 2023. Getty Images -
Mr Starmer speaks to supporters in Chatham after a Labour win in local elections in May 2023. Getty Images -
Joining party activists at a national phone bank on local elections day in London in May 2023. Getty Images -
Mr Starmer meets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Speaker's House in the Palace of Westminster, London, in February 2023. Getty Images -
The Labour leader and his wife Victoria leave the stage after his speech at the party conference in Liverpool in September 2022. Getty Images -
Mr Starmer and then-UK prime minister Liz Truss leave the Palace of Westminster in September 2022. Getty Images -
With former Labour prime ministers Tony Blair, centre, and Gordon Brown, right, at St James's Palace, London, where King Charles III was formally proclaimed monarch in September 2022. Getty Images -
Mr Starmer and then-prime minister Boris Johnson attend the State Opening of Parliament in May 2022. Getty Images -
Mr Starmer makes his keynote speech to the Labour conference for the first time as party leader in September 2021 in Brighton. Getty Images -
The gloves are on during a visit to the Vulcan Boxing Club in Hull, East Yorkshire, in April 2021. Getty Images -
Mr Starmer in talks with care home workers and family members of residents at Cafe 1899 in Gedling Country Park during the Covid-19 pandemic in July 2020. Getty Images -
Mr Starmer, then-shadow secretary of state for exiting the EU, addresses the audience at a hustings in March 2020 in Dudley. Getty Images -
Mr Starmer and then-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn talk to the media at the EU Commission headquarters in March 2019 in Brussels. Getty Images -
Mr Starmer delivers a speech on Labour's Brexit policy at the Institute of Civil Engineers in London in April 2017. Getty Images -
Holding a press conference as Director of Public Prosecutions to outline new guidelines on assisted suicide, in London in September 2009. Getty Images -
Human rights advisers Mr Starmer and Jane Gordon with the Northern Ireland Policing Board annual human rights report 2006, at the Dunadry Hotel in Co Antrim. Getty Images
