Rishi Sunak has called the general election after seeking King’s permission to dissolve Parliament

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called an election for July 4 after ministers rushed to attend a government meeting and the UK PM conferred with King Charles.

The UK general election will take place on July 4, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced.

The Conservative leader will gamble for his political life as voters take to the polls in the British summer time.

Mr Sunak - who has been steering the party for only 575 days since October 2022 - called ministers back from holiday as he assembled his cabinet for an urgent meeting to discuss his plans, despite Labour soaring ahead in the popularity polls.

Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaking during the weekly session of Prime Minister's Questions, in the House of Commons in central London. Picture: AFP

Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron cut short a trip to Albania to make it back for the cabinet meeting, while Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt cancelled an appearance on ITV.

Mr Sunak, 44, will take on Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer in a bid to remain at Number 10 Downing Street ahead of dissolving Parliament next week.

Labour is currently ahead in the polls at 44 per cent, while the Tories are lagging at 23.

Opposition leader Sir Keir welcomed the announcement saying, “It is time for change.”

The Labour leader said that after 14 years of Conservative rule the general election was an “opportunity for change” that will set the tone for July 4.

Britain's main opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer will take on current PM Rishi Sunak now that the election has been called for July 4. Picture: AFP / UK Parliament

Reform UK are third most popular at 11 per cent while the Liberal Democrats are sitting one point behind on 10.

If Mr Sunak loses the next election, he will have been in No 10 for less time than the Conservative’s Anthony Eden, who resigned in 1957 through ill-health after the Suez Crisis, lasting in office only one year and 279 days.

So far, Mr Sunak has been in office for one year and 208 days. By July 4, he will have clocked up one year and 251 days.

If he loses, he will be forced to resign the next day - 28 days short of Anthony Eden’s period in power.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (L) has requested permission from King Charles III to dissolve British Parliament. Picture: Jonathan Brady - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Addressing the nation, Mr Sunak revealed he had requested the King’s permission to dissolve Parliament next week.

To chants of “Tories Out” by protesters amassed in the rain at the gates of Downing Street, Mr Sunak confirmed the July 4 summer general election, saying: “I will do everything to provide you with the strongest protection I can.”

UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, speaks to the media as he announces the date for the UK General Election in Downing Street. Picture: Carl Court/Getty Images

To the tune of Things Can Only Get Better, pumped in the background by protesters, the Prime Minister went on to say that when he took up office his main aim was to “restore economic stability” and after “collective sacrifice” that stability had been delivered.

“I came to the office to restore economic stability…Inflation is back to normal.

“The question now is how and who do you trust to turn that foundation into a secure future... now is the moment for Britain to decide its future.”

He said that the UK in the last five years had “fought through the most challenging time” since the Second World War.

Straining to be heard over the music – New Labour’s 1997 election anthem Things Can Only Get Better — the sodden Prime Minister said his government has a “bold” plan for the future after 14 years of Tory rule.

“I will prove to you a Conservative government led by me will not put our economic stability at risk,” he said.

Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, soaked in rain, pauses as he delivers a speech to announce July 4 as the date of the UK's next general election, at 10 Downing Street. Picture: AFP

Mr Sunak raised his voice over the music and continued: “I have never and will never leave the people of this country to face the darkest of days alone.

“And you know that because you’ve seen it as I did then I will forever do everything in my power to provide you with the strongest possible protection I can.

“That is my promise to you, because for so many of us, it’s easy to forget the scale of what we’ve been through,” referring to the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and inflation.

“Economic stability is the bedrock of any future success, whether that is rising wages and good jobs, investment in our public services or the defence of the country,” he said.

“Our economy is now growing faster than anyone predicted, outpacing Germany, France and the United States.

“And this morning it was confirmed that inflation is back to normal,” he said.

As the country looks towards a six week general election campaign, Mr Sunak confirmed the King had granted his request to dissolve Parliament.

Buckingham Palace confirmed the King had met Mr Sunak on Wednesday afternoon after the Princes Trust awards reception for 15 minutes at their usual weekly audience meeting.

The royal family is to postpone engagements “which may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign”, Buckingham Palace has announced.A royal source said D-Day memorial will go ahead, while others are being reviewed.

Originally published as Rishi Sunak has called the general election after seeking King’s permission to dissolve Parliament