Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced a general election will take place on 4 July.
In a speech delivered outside a rainy 10 Downing Street, the PM said the time is for the UK to decide “who they trust”.
Sunak said: “This hard earned economic stability was only ever meant to be the beginning. The question now is how and who do you trust to turn that foundation into a secure future for you, your family and our country.
“Now is the moment for Britain to choose its future. To decide whether we want to build on the progress we have made or risk going back to square one with no plan and no certainty.”
The decision follows the Consumer Prices Index measure of inflation hitting 2.3% in the year leading to April 2024, according to Office for National Statistics’ data.
This was a drop from 3.2% recorded in the year up to March and is the lowest level since July 2021.
The rate is close to the Bank of England’s target of 2% but remains slightly higher than the market consensus of 2.1%.
