UK: Rishi Sunak to address nation as expectation mounts he will call a summer election

[RandySF]

LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was due to address the nation on Wednesday amid mounting expectations that he will call a summer general election.

Sunak's office confirmed that he would issue a statement statement after positive economic figures set Britain’s political rumor mill alight with speculation that an election might be imminent. Multiple British media outlets said he would name a July 4 date for the election.

Sunak's office declined to quash the rumors and refused "to rule anything in or out” after reports that the prime minister planned to announce the U.K.’s long awaited election for the summer.

Britain must hold a national election by January 2025, and Sunak has repeatedly said it will be in the back end of 2024.




https://www.middletownpress.com/news/world/article/rishi-sunak-s-office-mum-as-speculation-mounts-of-19472182.php

[Think. Again.]

1. That's interesting...

...one person can just decide for the entire country whenever they just feel like calling a general election?

[RandySF]

3. Pretty much

I’m sure the schedule is coordinated with party strategists. But yeah, the PM goes to the king/queen and formally requests a dissolution of Parliament and schedule an election.

[nitpicked]

2. July 4 per The Guardian 17.17 BST

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2024/may/22/uk-general-election-july-2024-sunak-starmer-senior-sources-say-uk-politics-live-news#top-of-blog

And link to BBC:

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/uk-politics-69042935

[RandySF]

4. Sky News is ridiculing Sunak for getting drenched in rain.