Prime Minister Rishi Sunak Calls General Election for July 4th

Rishi Sunak called the date for a general election in an address on Wednesday afternoon. (Screengrab via Sky News)

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed the 2024 general election date for July 4 in an announcement made Wednesday.

As Sunak delivered his announcement, cheeky protestors at the end of Downing Street played Things Can Only Get Better by pop band D:Ream, a song adopted by the Labour Party as their campaign theme in 1997 under the leadership of former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair after eighteen years in opposition.

Earlier on Wednesday, Sunak hailed the return of inflation to “normal” levels, following figures showing a drop to 2.3% in April. He described this as a “major milestone” for the country and urging the public to “stick to the plan” set out by his government in order “to improve economic security and opportunity for everyone.”

The Conservatives currently trail Labour by 20 points in the polls and face the possibility of being ousted after 14 years in power.

Speculation about the election date intensified through Wednesday afternoon when Cabinet ministers were called for an unusual meeting, with some cutting short overseas trips and scheduled media appearances to attend.

The last general election saw former Prime Minister Boris Johnson secure a landslide victory in 2019.