Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has delivered the Conservative’s pre-election speech, setting out the challenges the country faces in the years ahead.
It comes as his Conservative party languishes behind Labour in the polls, and suffered a mauling in local and regional elections earlier this month.
In the speech on Monday, he said that voters face a stark choice in whom they choose to govern the nation at a time of unprecedented global volatility and technological advancements.
He spoke about areas such as security as a priority, seeking to draw a dividing line with Labour over defence spending following his commitment to hike it to 2.5 per cent of gross domestic product by 2030.
He also addressed issues including the Rwanda scheme, the environment, the education system, and the economy.
“I have bold ideas that can change our society for the better, and restore people’s confidence and pride in our country,” Mr Sunak said.
“I feel a profound sense of urgency because more will change in the next five years than in the last 30.”
Sir Keir Starmer has also delivered Labour's six "first steps" in a pre-election speech.
Ahead of the launch, Sir Keir said: “These first steps make real our claim that a changed Labour Party is back in service of working people. They show our priorities, what we care about and what the British public cares about. Country first, party second.
“These first steps will make a real difference to people’s lives.
“If you’re waiting in pain for NHS treatment, if your child is at school and you want higher standards, if your local area is plagued by antisocial behaviour, if you want cheaper energy bills for good, these first steps show what a Labour government will do to help you.”
He said the steps were about looking "the public in the eye" with a "down payment" on what the party would offer the country.
A Labour spokesman said that the six steps were “not the sum total” of the party’s election offer when asked whether its other promises, including a new package of workers’ rights, would be side-lined.
The six "first steps" are to:
- Deliver economic stability
- Cut NHS waiting times
- Launch a new Border Security Command
- Set up Great British Energy
- Crack down on antisocial behaviour
- Recruit 6,500 new teachers
With the local and mayoral election voting behind us, many are wondering when the general election will take place. So when can we expect the next general election?
When is the next UK general election?
The maximum term for Parliament is five years. As the current Parliament first met on December 17, 2019, it will be automatically dissolved on December 17, 2024.
Under current rules – known as the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022 – the latest date the UK can go to the polls is January 2025.
At the start of the year, Sunak said he was looking to hold an election "in the second half of this year," however that hasn’t yet materialised.
Given the Tory’s recent defeats, they may try to hold off an election for as long as possible. Rumours have since circulated that Sunak is planning for the general election to take place in mid-October.
It is thought Mr Sunak is unlikely to hold an election mid-November, since it would clash with the US presidential election.
However, there is no confirmed date.
When was the last general election?
The last general election was on December 12, 2019. The Conservative Party won a large majority of 80 seats. This was a net gain of 48, on 43.6 per cent of the popular vote, the highest percentage for any party since the 1979 general election.
The prime minister at the time, Boris Johnson, called the election after months of parliamentary deadlock that delayed Brexit.
There was another general election in 2017, called by then-prime minister Theresa May. She had hoped to strengthen her hand in the Brexit negotiations.
When can a general election be held?
On March 24, 2022, the Government repealed the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act 2011, which had created five-year periods between elections and allowed earlier elections only in specific circumstances. The UK thus reverted to the prior situation, when the prime minister could ask the King to dissolve Parliament so a general election could be held.
When the act was repealed, the then minister for the Cabinet Office, Michael Ellis, said: “The Fixed-Term Parliaments Act was not fit for purpose, causing constitutional chaos in 2019 and delaying the Government acting on people’s priorities.
“At critical moments, we must trust the British public’s good judgement. Elections give the public a voice, and it’s right that we return to a tried-and-tested system that allows them to take place when needed.”
Why are elections held on a Thursday?
Every general election since 1931 has been held on a Thursday.
It was suggested that this would encourage more people to vote. It has been thought that elections on a Friday would have had lower turnouts given people’s desire to begin their weekends.
Saturday and Sunday were believed to have been ruled out given the need to pay extra for polling staff (typically local council employees) to work at the weekend.
