Rishi Sunak: UK Parliament to be Dissolved on 30th May, Next General Election on 4th July
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced that the next general election will take place on 4th July, with Parliament being dissolved on Thursday, 30th May. He made this announcement at a press conference on the evening of 22nd May, according to the BBC.
“I have asked His Majesty the King to dissolve Parliament. He has granted my request, and we will hold a general election on 4th July,” the Prime Minister stated.
Rishi Sunak noted that the upcoming parliamentary election in the UK will occur at a time when the world is at its most dangerous since the Cold War. “Putin’s Russia is waging a brutal war against Ukraine and will not stop there if it succeeds. This war has also clearly shown the risks to our energy security,” he added.
Among other things, Rishi Sunak also mentioned that he is proud of his government's achievements, including fighting inflation, controlling public debt, reducing taxes for workers, and increasing the state pension by £900.
However, British experts point out that the upcoming election could be disastrous for the Conservative Party, led by Rishi Sunak. According to forecasts, the Conservatives are expected to win 155 seats, while Labour is projected to secure 403 out of the 650 seats in the UK Parliament.
The Labour Party has already declared its unwavering commitment to supporting Ukraine should it come to power. This declaration was made by members of the so-called “Shadow Cabinet,” David Lammy and John Healey, during their visit to Ukraine in mid-May. If Labour wins the election, these British politicians could become the Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary, respectively.
During their visit to Ukraine, they outlined a five-point support plan for Ukraine, focusing on military support, diplomatic contacts, combating Russian aggression, industrial development, and aid for reconstruction.
“A change of government in the UK will mean no change in our military, diplomatic, financial, and political support for Ukraine. The commitments of the next Labour government to Ukraine will be ironclad, and European security will be our top foreign and defence priority,” said Lammy in a statement.
Both politicians also promised to help Ukraine develop a “clear path for Ukraine’s NATO membership.”