Rishi Sunak’s General Election gamble

Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government

Institute for Government

News, Politics, Government

4.6 • 252 Ratings

🗓️ 24 May 2024

⏱️ 36 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The wait is over! The election has been called! The countdown to July the 4th starts now. After months of speculation, and a frenzied day of drama in Westminster, the IfG podcast team are joined by Sam Freedman to make sense of Rishi Sunak’s decision and explore what happens next. Things could hardly have got wetter as the prime minister gave his podium address on the steps of Downing Street, with Sunak’s moment in the rain shared with whoever was playing - at an incredible volume - that familiar New Labour anthem by D:Ream. So why has the PM called a general election? What could happen between now and the July 4th polling day? What needs to happen in Parliament first? And given Labour’s seemingly unshifting poll lead, is there really a route to victory for the Conservative party or has Sunak - as his harsher critics are saying - just given up? Presented by Hannah White with Emma Norris and Joe Owen. Produced by Candice McKenzie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello and welcome to Inside Briefing, the podcast from the Institute for Government.
0:14.0	I'm Hannah White. Well, the weight is over. For months, we've spent far too much time speculating about the date of the general election.
0:21.9	But, and to many people's surprise, not at least a lot of his own MPs, it seems, Rishi Sunak has now
0:26.9	revealed his hand. It's July the 4th, everyone. Things could hardly have got wetter, as the Prime Minister
0:32.3	gave his podium address on the steps of Downing Street, with Sunnack's moment in the range
0:36.7	shared with whoever was playing
0:38.4	at an incredible volume, that familiar new Labour anthem by Dee Ream.
0:42.6	Earlier today, I spoke with His Majesty the King to request the dissolution of Parliament.
0:47.4	The King has granted this request, and we will have a general election on the 4th of July.
0:53.0	So, why has Sunak called a general election?
0:56.1	What could happen between now and the July 4th polling date?
0:59.7	What needs to happen in Parliament 1st?
1:01.8	And given Labour's seemingly unshifting poll lead,
1:04.7	is there really a route to victory for the Conservative Party?
1:07.9	Or has Sunak, as his harsher critics are saying,
1:12.2	just given up?
1:17.7	Well, after the deluge and a day of drama in Westminster, I'm joined by two IFG colleagues who have immediately switched to election footing and are ready and rearing for the campaign.
1:22.2	And that's our deputy director, Emma, Norris, and our director of Impact Joe Owen.
1:26.4	Hi, Emma. Hi, Joe. Hi. Hello. And I'm delighted that we're
1:29.6	joined today by our senior fellow and one-time conservative advisor Sam Friedman. Hi Sam. Hello.
1:35.5	So Sam, let's start with you. Were you surprised yesterday and what do you think the logic is of calling an election now?
1:42.4	I was a bit surprised actually. I didn't think they'd hold on till
	...

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