LONDON — British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called a snap general election for July 4.
The Conservative leader made the announcement in a rain-swept statement outside 10 Downing Street on Wednesday, launching a battle with Labor’s Keir Starmer as the opposition party battles for control after 14 years of Conservative rule.
The announcement comes on a day when inflation figures boosted the Conservatives’ hopes of campaigning for an economic recovery. It’s an uphill battle, with Labor enjoying a double-digit lead in the polls.
Both leaders attempt to portray the other as a risky bet – Sunak on the grounds that Labor would delay economic recovery and jeopardize his plans to increase defense spending, while Starmer argues “nothing is working” because of the “chaos” of the conservatives.
Follow POLITICO’s live blog for all the twists and turns as the election campaign unfolds.
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