British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called a national election on Wednesday, naming July 4 as the date for a vote his governing Conservatives are widely expected to lose to the opposition Labour Party after 14 years in power.
Ending months of speculation over the timing of a new vote, Sunak, 44, announced outside his 10 Downing Street residence that he was calling the election earlier than some had expected, a risky strategy with his party way behind in the opinion polls.
Sunak heads into the election not only far behind Labour in the polls but also rather isolated from some in his party and increasingly dependent on a small team of advisers to steer him through what is set to be an ugly campaign. But he seems to have decided that with some economic gains, such as inflation falling and the economy growing at its fastest pace in almost three years, now is the time to take a risk and present his agenda for a new term formally to voters.—AFP
