UK general elections on July 4: PM Sunak

LONDON: The UK general election has been scheduled for July 4, according to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s announcement Wednesday.

British media houses quoting sources said Sunak would name the date in a Downing Street statement after the cabinet meeting.

Earlier, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak looked set on Wednesday to call an election for July 4, with a statement expected after ministers cancelled events and either curtailed or delayed foreign trips to attend a government meeting. For most of Wednesday, rumours swirled around parliament that the British leader was poised to call an election — something neither he nor his team would confirm or deny. Several local media, citing sources, said Sunak would call an election on July 4, an expectation shared by many in his Conservative Party, which is running way behind opposition Labour in the opinion polls.