On 22 May, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that a general election will take place on 4 July
In a surprise announcement yesterday, the Prime Minister announced that he’d requested permission from the King to announce a general election.
Now that Sunak has made the call, the Government must be dissolved 25 working days before the election happens.
So, parliament will stop work, or be ‘prorogued’, on 24 May, while dissolution will take place on 30 May.
Speaking of the General Election, Victoria Brownlie, Chief Policy Officer at the British Beauty Council said: ‘The next few months will be an interesting time for both industry and the country to see who they feel best represents their interests.
‘For the Council it will be about ensuring that, regardless of whoever is elected to lead the UK, the beauty industry continues to be recognised in the walls of Whitehall for its economic and social value from a domestic standpoint, as well as its soft power globally.’
What happens when Parliament is dissolved?
According to the House of Commons library: ‘Dissolution is the official end of a Parliament, and all seats in the House of Commons become vacant.’ In other words, MPs stop being Members of Parliament and become parliamentary candidates (unless they have chosen not to re-stand).
Despite this happening, Government ministers continue to carry out duties, as does the Civil Service.
Unfortunately, the calling of an election means that any events, parliamentary campaigning activity or meetings with MPs are cancelled and must be reorganised for post the election.
What happens next?
Over the next six weeks, leaders from all parties will be campaigning for the public’s vote. This includes touring the UK to make speeches, host rallies and drum up support. Parliamentary candidates from the 650 constituency seats across the UK will also be canvassing for your vote.
Labour and Conservative leaders, Kier Starmer and Rishi Sunak, are expected to take part in television debates too, together with the leaders of minority parties such as the Liberal Democrats, Reform and the Green Party.
How does voting work?
On polling day, 4 May, everyone registered to vote can submit a constituency vote for their preferred candidate. The candidate with the most votes becomes the MP, and then the party with the most MPs forms the government.
This election will be fought on new constituency boundaries, redrawn to reflect population changes and to try to even out voter numbers in each area. You can find out which constituency you live in using this online directory.
