General election latest: Sunak's announcement gets brutal review from top Tory - as Reform leader defends 1066 graph (2024)

By Professor Michael Thrasher, Sky News election analyst

The electoral geography of the UK is changing.

Following the recommendations of independent Boundary Commissions for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the next UK general election - which Sky News understands will be on 4 July - will be fought on new constituency boundaries, replacing those in operation since 2010.

This is the sixth periodic review to be implemented since the war. The next review is not scheduled until October 2031.

Exploring how this movement of voters affects the political makeup of the House of Commons is a task that Colin Rallings and myself have been doing over the past thirty years following previous boundary adjustments.

There are winners and losers in different parts of the UK - read the full analysis here:

Rishi Sunak's decision to call a general election has kickstarted what is known as the "wash-up" period - the term used to describe the final days before parliament is formally dissolved.

It means the government will now try to progress any outstanding legislation with the aim of making it law before parliament is prorogued, and the current parliamentary session comes to an end, on Friday.

However, with such a limited timeframe, it is expected that a number of bills that have defined this parliamentary session are likely to fall by the wayside.

Sky's political reporter Alex Rogerstakes you through the key bills that are unlikely to make it into law:

The political parties have been setting out their election campaigns, with voters going to the polls exactly six weeks from today.

On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to deputy political editor Sam Coates, who is following the prime minister on his campaign trail around the UK, visiting four nations in two days.

He also chats with chief political correspondent Jon Craig about the launch of Labour's campaign in Kent.

Plus, Sky's online campaign correspondent Tom Cheshire tells Niall why the parties are spending big money online and whether it could affect the election outcome.

Two Tory ministers and deputy speaker Dame Eleanor Laing have confirmed they will not stand in next month's general election.

Transport minister Huw Merriman is among five Conservative MP to reveal they will not seek re-election, following Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's announcement that the country will go to the polls on 4 July.

The Bexhill and Battle MP said in a statement he has "loved being an MP" and is departing with "a heavy heart". He did not give a reason for choosing to stand down.

Mr Merriman, who has been in parliament for nine years, has a majority of 26,059 votes, winning over 63.6% of the vote in 2019.

His announcement came hours after that of fellow Tory minister Jo Churchill.

Read more here:

A minister asked a meeting of Tory MPs whether it was still possible to submit a letter of no confidence in the prime minister after he announced the election, Sky News understands.

Sky's political editor Beth Rigby revealed in herElectoral Dysfunction podcastthat health minister Dame Andrea Leadsom made the query at the 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPs yesterday.

Dame Andrea declined to comment when contacted by Sky News, saying "1922 Committee meetings are private".

Hours after Rishi Sunak announced there would be an election on 4 July, Beth Rigby reported there were considerable discussions on Conservative WhatsApp groups about whether there was still a route to stop a general election.

She told the podcast MPs are "really unhappy" with the timing of the vote, with some texting her saying it was "absolute madness".

One minister, she says, told her the letters were already going in again for a vote of no confidence in the PM, indicating the election was called "from a position of weakness".

Read more here:

We've just been hearing from our deputy political editor Sam Coates, who is in Inverness, where Rishi Sunak has arrived in the last hour.

Sam explained that Scotland is the third UK nation the PM is visiting today, and said: "Rishi Sunak knows he's the underdog.

"In fact, calling himself the underdog is pretty much a large part of his campaign, which is rather unusual for a prime minister.

"But then again, it is rather unusual for a prime minister to go to the country when he is 20 points behind in the polls."

He summarised the PM's pitch, which is saying the world is a dangerous place with uncertainty at home and abroad, and voters "cannot afford to change direction" and go for Labour.

What has stuck out to Sam throughout the campaign events today is "they are not gigantic rallies with hundreds and hundreds of people".

"They are quite tightly-controlled affairs with a few dozen, often invited individuals, who are called upon in some cases to talk to the PM - they make small talk, and then he moves on.

"The whole point of them is in order to generate pictures for the TV cameras."

Sam said he has been flying in a private jet "basically paid for by private donors" to get to these out-of-town places.

He also said the Tory party is "trying to manipulate the image" to make campaign events "look busy and warm" when, in reality, "they're hiring vast spaces with proportionally not that many people in them".

"They are hoping this makes him look active and real, and part of the community, understanding of people's concerns.

"But he's so far behind - the question is, will it work."

Labour sources tonight have rejected a Tory push for multiple election debates through the six-week campaign - confirming their participation in two.

Party sources have told Sky News they "won’t be tearing up the format established in previous elections just to suit this week’s whims of the Tory party".

Sir Keir Starmer will take part in two debates during the campaign, the sources said, emphasising that their "priority" is to speak with voters and take questions from the media.

This evening, Rishi Sunak said the Labour leader doesn't want to debate him because "because he doesn’t have a plan and doesn’t have the courage to say what he wants to do".

Writing in The Telegraph, the PM made the case that the UK would be "less secure in every way" under Labour, arguing that while he offers "bold action, they do not".

On social media, party chair Richard Holden has tried to goad Labour into accepting the challenge, accusing Sir Keir of multiple U-turns.

And speaking to The Express, Mr Holden said it's "no surprise that spineless Sir Keir Starmer is now chickening out of debates".

By Alix Culbertson, political reporter

Nigel Farage has said he will not be making a return to British politics after a general election was called.

The Reform UK honorary president and former UKIP leader said he had thought "long and hard" as to whether he should stand to become an MP in the 4 July general election announced on Wednesday, but said "it is not the right time".

Mr Farage said although the general election is important, the United States election in November "has huge global significance" so he has chosen to "help with the grassroots campaign" there as a "strong America...is vital for our peace and security".

He has helped Donald Trump's campaign since 2016.

Reform UK leader Richard Tice told Sky News Mr Farage will still help with their election campaign, which he is "absolutely thrilled" with, and said the Reform co-founder will be "very busy" during the campaign.

Moments later, Mr Farage retweeted a social media post saying he is quitting his GB News show during the campaign so he can canvass for Reform UK.

Read more here:

Rishi Sunak is challenging Sir Keir Starmer to multiple TV debates throughout the course of the general election campaign as the PM tries to make up a 20 point poll deficit.

The Telegraph is reporting that the Tories want a head-to-head debate between the two candidates for PM every week of the campaign - which would equal a record six debates.

On social media, Richard Holden has tried to goad Labour into accepting the challenge, accusing Sir Keir of multiple U-turns.

Meanwhile, Mr Sunak said the Labour leader doesn't want to debate him because "he doesn’t want to because he doesn’t have a plan and doesn’t have the courage to say what he wants to do".

Writing in The Telegraph, the PM made the case that the UK would be "less secure in every way" under Labour, arguing that he offers "bold action, they do not".

He repeated his pitch that he offers security in a dangerous world, a plan to tackle illegal migration, and low taxes.

Rishi Sunak was barely two minutes into his general election announcement yesterday when a song began blaring near No 10.

Younger or less politically astute viewers may have assumed the tune was part of the prime minister's efforts to inspire the nation, as he didn't miss a beat in his speech when the music came in.

Its purpose, however, was very different.

The song - Things Can Only Get Better by D:Ream - was the official anthem ofSir Tony Blair's landslide victory for Labour in 1997.

The party adopted the track which had already had mainstream success in the year after its release in 1993. It re-entered the charts during Sir Tony's campaign, which featured the lead singer Peter Cunnah performing the song live at several rallies.

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