General Election – Live News: Rishi Sunak to declare general election in July after months of speculation

The prime minister is scheduled to announce the election to the public from outside the presidential palace.

Sir Ed Davey is on his way to Michael Gove’s truly safe Conservative seat of Surrey Heath to launch his party’s election campaign, writes Archie Mitchell.

Liberal Democrat leaders are heading to their seats to respond to Rishi Sunak’s announcement that a general election is expected to be held on July 4.

Sir Ed has long called for a general election and the move will be seen as the Liberal Democrat leader trying to plant his flag on Conservative turf.

You can watch the full speech live here:

Rishi Sunak is holed up in Downing Street with his ministers and is expected to emerge soon to confirm the date for the July 4 snap election, writes David Maddox.

After months of speculation, the prime minister decided that improving economic figures and the prospect of flights carrying asylum seekers to Rwanda offered an opportunity to close the gap on Labour’s large lead in the opinion polls.

The announcement will be made from the Downing Street podium before the Prime Minister goes to ask King Charles to dissolve Parliament.

according to guardianthe prime minister is expected to announce a snap election in July this afternoon.

Sources said Sunak may set July 4th as the official date for the contest.

Until voters head to the polls, Labor will face off against the Conservatives in a competitive election.

Opinion polls show Sir Keir Starmer’s party leading by around 20 points.

Rishi Sunak has refused to rule out a snap election as the government is buoyed by a positive fall in inflation.

The chancellor said the fall in inflation to 2.3% from 3.2% showed “brighter days” ahead for the UK, the closest she has come to the Bank of England’s 2% inflation target since taking office at the end of 2022.

There is now speculation in Westminster that Mr Sunak may soon call a snap election, encouraged by the improving economy.

So far, the Prime Minister has resisted calls to hold an election, despite constant pressure from Labor.

But Mr Sunak has previously promised there would be a vote in the second half of the year.

Conservative rebel sources said MPs were writing a letter calling for a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister. BBC Newsnight Nicholas Wyatt writes.

Rumors are swirling that a general election announcement is imminent, which appears to have sparked anger among Conservative members.

A source said: “There is panic in the coffee room. No one expected anything like this. Everyone is in shock.”

MPs now believe Rishi Sunak is seeking to call a general election at 5pm today.

As Cabinet prepared to hold an emergency meeting at 4pm, civil servants and ministers each reported that an election announcement was “coming soon”.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron and Defense Secretary Grant Shapps have canceled meetings for the Cabinet, and the Prime Minister is due to address the nation at 5pm.

Speculation that a restructuring would take place instead has been dismissed as unlikely.

“Convening the entire cabinet is not the way to carry out a reshuffle,” said one lawmaker.

But Conservative MPs are furious at the prospect of an election forcing them to cancel holidays planned for next week.

One senior backbencher said: The Conservative Party is not ready, and neither are MPs.

“I need a break. For many, this was their last chance to take a proper vacation.

“This shows that the Prime Minister has no regard for backbenchers.”

“In any case, I’m not sure the party is ready to fight this election yet.”

If the Foreign Secretary were to abandon all this, it must mean that he had urgent business to attend to in London.