Rishi Sunak Calls Early UK General Election for 4 July

[Social Media]

 

In a surprise announcement, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called for an early general election to be held on Thursday, 4 July. The move comes as a bid to secure a fifth consecutive term for the Conservative Party, overturning previous expectations of an autumn poll. Sunak made the announcement during a rain-soaked speech outside 10 Downing Street, emphasizing his commitment to "fight for every vote." The decision to call an early election aims to capitalize on recent economic improvements, including a drop in annual inflation to its lowest rate in nearly three years and the UK’s emergence from recession earlier this year.

 

"Today's inflation figures and our economic recovery are proof that the plan and priorities we set out are working," Sunak declared, despite being interrupted by activists playing the New Labour anthem "Things Can Only Get Better" over a loudspeaker.

 

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer responded quickly, stating it was "time for change" and criticizing the Conservative government for what he termed "Tory chaos" that has damaged the economy and public services. Starmer argued that a Labour government would bring political stability and better management of the NHS and crime. "Give the Tories five more years and things will only get worse. Britain deserves better than that," Starmer said in a televised statement.

 

Other political leaders also reacted to the announcement:

• SNP leader John Swinney saw the election as a chance to "remove the Tory government and put Scotland first."
• Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey described it as an opportunity to "kick Rishi Sunak's appalling Conservative government out of office."
• Greens co-leader Carla Denyer expressed hopes to increase the number of Green MPs.
• Reform UK leader Richard Tice criticized both major parties, claiming the Tories had "broken Britain" and Labour would "bankrupt Britain," promoting his party’s "common sense policies."

 

With Parliament set to be suspended on Friday and formally shut down next week, there are only two days left to pass any outstanding legislation. This tight timeline means that some government measures will have to be abandoned. The upcoming election will be fought on newly redrawn constituency boundaries, reflecting population changes since 2010, and will be the first to require voter ID. Sunak's decision has caused confusion within the Conservative Party. Some members expressed bewilderment at the timing, arguing that more time would have allowed the improving economy to bolster their position.

 

"I just don't understand it," one Tory MP told the BBC. "The economy is improving. Why not give that more time to bed in?" A senior minister criticized Sunak for giving his speech in the rain, suggesting it undermined his image. "If the whole point was to remind the public that he was Mr. Furlough, why not do the speech inside from the same briefing room?" they questioned, noting that Labour MPs appeared happy with the decision, while Conservatives were not.

 

This election will be the first held in July since 1945 and the first general election since 2015 not requiring a parliamentary vote to approve the date, following the reversal of legislation fixing the time between polls.

The last election in 2019 saw Boris Johnson win an 80-seat majority, but his tenure was marked by volatility, including the Covid pandemic and a series of scandals leading to his resignation. His successor, Liz Truss, lasted only 49 days after a market backlash to her economic plans.

 

 

Credit: BBC 2024-05-23

 

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[thaibeachlovers]

Given Starmer is probably worse than Sunak, and I despise Labour for what they did when they were in, it's no matter which loser is in charge, IMO. Bad whichever wins.

[thaibeachlovers]

  On 5/22/2024 at 11:10 PM, Social Media said:

 

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So, just what numpty thought it was a good idea to send him out in the rain to make his speech? Was getting wet supposed to improve his image or something? IMO he was just an idiot for not at least using an umbrella- I'm sure they have a couple lying around.

[RuamRudy]

  On 5/22/2024 at 11:10 PM, Social Media said:

 

"I just don't understand it," one Tory MP told the BBC. "The economy is improving. Why not give that more time to bed in?"

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Could it be because this is as good as it's going to get? Sunak recognises that growth and recovery are going to stall, and regardless of just how unfavourable the conditions are now for the Tories, things are only going to get worse.

[Chomper Higgot]

Bring it on!

[JonnyF]

  On 5/23/2024 at 12:23 AM, RuamRudy said:

 

Could it be because this is as good as it's going to get? Sunak recognises that growth and recovery are going to stall, and regardless of just how unfavourable the conditions are now for the Tories, things are only going to get worse.

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Personally I would have given Labour more time to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

 

Now, they only have 6 weeks to come up with something ridiculous. But Sunak has never been the sharpest of minds.

 

For those bringing money from the UK to Thailand, I'd recommend doing so before Labour get power and trash the UK economy like they always do. 

[Wobblybob]

  On 5/23/2024 at 2:00 AM, Chomper Higgot said:

Bring it on!

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What can possibly go wrong.🥴

[James105]

  On 5/23/2024 at 2:59 AM, Wobblybob said:

What can possibly go wrong.🥴

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So 5-10 years of this clown show and then 15-20 years of the country trying to recover from the mess they leave after that, although with the expected increase in low skilled immigrants who will be a net drain on the nations income, infrastructure and culture it may never recover this time.   I can at least relax in the knowledge that however much money they waste, not a single penny of it will be mine as I no longer pay any tax in the UK.   Thankfully I will also not be dependant on the state pension when I am eventually old enough to receive it either so whatever damage they do on that front I will also be protected. 

 

I do feel sorry for those who are wise enough not to vote for either Labour or Conservative who only serve themselves or their fellow globalist elites, but not so much for those who continue to vote for the establishment parties.  

[Chomper Higgot]

  On 5/23/2024 at 12:09 AM, thaibeachlovers said:

So, just what numpty thought it was a good idea to send him out in the rain to make his speech? Was getting wet supposed to improve his image or something? IMO he was just an idiot for not at least using an umbrella- I'm sure they have a couple lying around.

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It might not have been a smart move but it did give rise to my favorite UK Election 24 meme (so far).

 

“Things can only get wetter”

 

Narrowly beating:

 

”Gone on the 4th of July”.

 

[nauseus]

  On 5/23/2024 at 12:09 AM, thaibeachlovers said:

So, just what numpty thought it was a good idea to send him out in the rain to make his speech? Was getting wet supposed to improve his image or something? IMO he was just an idiot for not at least using an umbrella- I'm sure they have a couple lying around.

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Gene Kelly offered him out for a fight but then didn't show up. Sunak was lost for words:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swloMVFALXw&list=RDswloMVFALXw&start_radio=1

 

[shackleton]

Well the British people or  majority of them want labour in power

Looking at the people in charge of the Labour Party more wishful thinking policies  coming up 

I  think they will trash the economy  the pound sterling will drop more immigrants and refugees being welcomed 

Can see any positives  😱

A disaster in waiting ✋ 

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

  On 5/23/2024 at 5:56 AM, shackleton said:

Well the British people or  majority of them want labour in power

Looking at the people in charge of the Labour Party more wishful thinking policies  coming up 

I  think they will trash the economy  the pound sterling will drop more immigrants and refugees being welcomed 

Can see any positives  😱

A disaster in waiting ✋ 

 

 

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Check those things right now.

[rudi49jr]

  On 5/23/2024 at 2:50 AM, JonnyF said:

before Labour get power and trash the UK economy like they always do. 

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Just another porky. The economy did actually quite well in the 10 years under Tony Blair.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/business_blair_and_the_uk_economy/html/1.stm

[transam]

  On 5/23/2024 at 2:59 AM, Wobblybob said:

What can possibly go wrong.🥴

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I can just imagine Angela Rayner in control, approaching the despatch box with a pint of Newcastle Brown Ale in here hand, and the recording chap struggling to bleep out the expletives.........😱................😂

[JonnyF]

  On 5/23/2024 at 7:35 AM, rudi49jr said:

Just another porky. The economy did actually quite well in the 10 years under Tony Blair.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/business_blair_and_the_uk_economy/html/1.stm

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Shame about Blair's illegal war/war crimes and destabilizing the middle east based on WMD lies. 

 

As for the economy, Labour had pretty much crashed it by 2009 before leaving the Tories to fix it in 2010. Same as they always do. 

 

Same as they will again. They take over in a decent position, crash it and then get voted out. 

 

https://www.macrotrends.net/global-metrics/countries/GBR/united-kingdom/gdp-gross-domestic-product#:~:text=U.K. gdp for 2022 was,a 0.69% decline from 2018.

 

 

[RayC]

  On 5/23/2024 at 7:43 AM, transam said:

I can just imagine Angela Rayner in control, approaching the despatch box with a pint of Newcastle Brown Ale in here hand, and the recording chap struggling to bleep out the expletives.........😱................😂

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Rayner's from Manchester, Trans. Unlikely to be drinking Newkie Brown, more likely she'll have a pint of Bodies😉

[PETERTHEEATER]

Would you vote for a man who cannot spell the name of his beer sponsor correctly?

 

[RayC]

  On 5/23/2024 at 7:51 AM, JonnyF said:

 

Shame about Blair's illegal war/war crimes and destabilizing the middle east based on WMD lies. 

 

As for the economy, Labour had pretty much crashed it by 2009 before leaving the Tories to fix it in 2010. Same as they always do. 

 

Same as they will again. They take over in a decent position, crash it and then get voted out. 

 

https://www.macrotrends.net/global-metrics/countries/GBR/united-kingdom/gdp-gross-domestic-product#:~:text=U.K. gdp for 2022 was,a 0.69% decline from 2018.

 

 

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Right. Everything's just peachy here.

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021–present_United_Kingdom_cost-of-living_crisis#:~:text=Causes unique to the UK,a rise in Council Tax.

[JonnyF]

  On 5/23/2024 at 7:43 AM, transam said:

I can just imagine Angela Rayner in control, approaching the despatch box with a pint of Newcastle Brown Ale in here hand, and the recording chap struggling to bleep out the expletives.........😱................😂

Expand  

 

Indeed.

 

Sneering "Youse are all Skoom" at the conservatives in one of her low cut, cleavage exposing tops. It' would be quite the sight to behold. 😃

[RayC]

  On 5/23/2024 at 3:12 AM, James105 said:

 

So 5-10 years of this clown show and then 15-20 years of the country trying to recover from the mess they leave after that, although with the expected increase in low skilled immigrants who will be a net drain on the nations income, infrastructure and culture it may never recover this time.   I can at least relax in the knowledge that however much money they waste, not a single penny of it will be mine as I no longer pay any tax in the UK.   Thankfully I will also not be dependant on the state pension when I am eventually old enough to receive it either so whatever damage they do on that front I will also be protected. 

 

I do feel sorry for those who are wise enough not to vote for either Labour or Conservative who only serve themselves or their fellow globalist elites, but not so much for those who continue to vote for the establishment parties.  

Expand  

 

So your solution is what? Raise the drawbridge and have us live like a European version of North Korea?

[RayC]

  On 5/23/2024 at 8:41 AM, JonnyF said:

 

Indeed.

 

Sneering "Youse are all Skoom" at the conservatives in one of her low cut, cleavage exposing tops. It' would be quite the sight to behold. 😃

Expand  

 

You appear to have given Rayner a Scouse accent.

[JonnyF]

  On 5/23/2024 at 8:37 AM, RayC said:

Right. Everything's just peachy here.

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The IMF seems to think so.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cedd1nd5d9go

 

 

I'm sure they will revise that down if "tax and spend" Labour get in.

[JonnyF]

  On 5/23/2024 at 8:43 AM, RayC said:

 

You appear to have given Rayner a Scouse accent.

Expand  

 

If only she were that classy.

[Chomper Higgot]

  On 5/23/2024 at 7:51 AM, JonnyF said:

Shame about Blair's illegal war/war crimes and destabilizing the middle east based on WMD lies.

Expand  

 

It wasn’t Blair’s war, it was a war voted for by the whole of Parliament with the exception of 153 Labour MPs (84 against, 69 abstentions)  and 19 Tory MPs (2 against, 17 abstentions).

 

 

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

  On 5/23/2024 at 8:41 AM, JonnyF said:

 

Indeed.

 

Sneering "Youse are all Skoom" at the conservatives in one of her low cut, cleavage exposing tops. It' would be quite the sight to behold. 😃

Expand  

Mum problems?

[JonnyF]

  On 5/23/2024 at 8:47 AM, Chomper Higgot said:

 

It wasn’t Blair’s war, it was a war voted for by the whole of Parliament with the exception of 153 Labour MPs (84 against, 69 abstentions)  and 19 Tory MPs (2 against, 17 abstentions).

 

 

 

 

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Parliament voted based on Blair's lies. 

[JonnyF]

  On 5/23/2024 at 8:48 AM, Chomper Higgot said:

Mum problems?

Expand  

 

Drinking problem? 

[Chomper Higgot]

What are the Tories offering I wonder:

 

Warm sunlit uplands, just over the horizon?

A chance to skip the NHS queues and pay privately if you need medical attention?

Tax payers money to be funneled to their chums with nothing in return?

Affordable houses for Rwandans in Rwanda?

Sewage filled rivers and undrinkable tap water?

Windfall profits for energy companies paid for by working people having to borrow money to pay their bills?

Police that don’t attend crime scenes?

Schools that are falling down?

Dangerous prisoners released without review and police told not to make arrests because prisons are over crowded?

And of course, it’s always somebody else’s fault.

[Chomper Higgot]

  On 5/23/2024 at 8:57 AM, JonnyF said:

 

Parliament voted based on Blair's lies. 

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Parliament voted.

 

Not all MPs voted for the war and considerably more Labour MPs voted against than for.

 

One of the most outspoken critics of the war being a Labour MP upon whom you frequently vent a particularly rancid version of your spleen.

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

  On 5/23/2024 at 8:59 AM, JonnyF said:

 

Drinking problem? 

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No I don’t ever drink in the daytime, nor do I reserve venomous comments almost entirely for women.