The Prime Minister of Britain is not known for taking risks. However, on the evening of last Wednesday, Rishi Sunak surprised everyone by calling for a snap election, which will take place on July 4.
This electoral contest will not be held in favourable conditions for the Conservative Party, which has been in power for 14 years. Britain is grappling with the consequences of Brexit, rising inflation, and a cost-of-living crisis that is crushing incomes, along with the war in Ukraine.
There is also the issue of immigration, with increasing flows of people crossing or attempting to cross the English Channel, and the controversial Rwanda plan, which London hopes will curb migration.
All polls predict a heavy defeat for the Tories. According to forecasts, Keir Starmer’s Labour Party maintains a significant lead, and most analysts expect a relatively comfortable victory for them. It is not surprising, then, that several British media outlets speculate that the Labour leader has already drafted his speech to be delivered before King Charles, as he assumes office.
We cannot read Sunak’s mind to know his exact motives for ‘pulling the trigger.’ Political analysts believe that further delay would not have benefited the Conservatives. Sunak may have accepted that the game was lost and saw no reason to wait until the end of his term in January. As the saying goes, ‘Better out than in.’
On the other hand, after months of being challenged by his own party, he may have wanted to show them who’s in charge. Or perhaps he believes that a dynamic election campaign can turn the tide and change the narrative. It is also possible that he is aiming for a comeback unprecedented in scale.
While the potential for a turnaround exists, it is minuscule. After so many years in power and with prime ministers like Liz Truss, who was the worst the Conservatives could offer, their chances are slim.
Interestingly, as Sunak announced the election outside 10 Downing Street, the song “Things Can Only Get Better,” associated with Tony Blair’s Labour premiership in the ’00s, could be heard.
But no one in Britain is betting on things getting better for the Tories.
