Sunak's big gamble

Prime minister calls a surprise general election for 4 July as Tory party trails in polling

- Pippa Crerar

Alarm among senior ministers but Starmer urges voters to finally ‘stop the chaos’

Rishi Sunak called a surprise general election for 4 July in a high -stakes gamble yesterday that will see Keir Starmer try to win power for Labour after 14 years of Conservative-led government.

Addressing the nation outside Downing Street , the prime minister said it was “the moment for Britain to choose its future” as he claimed the Tories could be trusted to lead the country at a time of global instability.

Rain-soaked Sunak’s address was almost drowned out by the New Labour anthem, D:Ream’s Things Can Only Get Better, blasted out by the anti-Brexit campaigner Steve Bray . 

Sunak’s words were met with alarm by senior Tories concerned that their party, trailing 20 percentage points behind Labour in the polls, could face electoral wipeout, with some MPs even considering submitting letters of no confidence.

Starmer is widely expected to become the next prime minister after transforming Labour since its historic election defeat almost five years ago.

In a televised address in front of union flags, the Labour leader said the election gave voters the opportunity to bring about change. “Here it is. The future of the country in your hands,” he said. “On July 4 you have the choice and together we can stop the chaos, we can turn the page, we can start to rebuild Britain, and change our country.”