Rishi Sunak has lastly fired the beginning gun on the final election marketing campaign, gorgeous Westminster by calling a snap ballot for 4 July, ending months of hypothesis.
In a speech within the pouring rain exterior 10 Downing Road, the prime minister defended his file on the economic system, nationwide safety and immigration as he set out the important thing battleground points he intends to marketing campaign on over the following six weeks.
The election, he mentioned, can be a selection between himself and Labour chief Sir Keir Starmer, who vowed to finish Tory “chaos” and produce again financial “stability” throughout his personal election handle.
Voters will certainly select between the 2 get together leaders on the poll field. However they may also choose their native MPs – 650 to be exact – and there are a number of Conservative Social gathering huge beasts vulnerable to being ejected from the Commons, with Labour commanding a 21 per cent lead within the polls, in accordance with one tracker.
Jeremy Hunt
Jeremy Hunt, the chancellor, is probably probably the most high-profile Tory MP in danger through the summer season election.
Mr Hunt, who has served within the cupboard nearly regularly since 2010, is defending a majority of 8,817 within the new Godalming and Ash constituency, which takes in components of Mr Hunt’s present South West Surrey seat.
A majority that huge would often depart the incumbent protected, however the dimension of the swing away from the Tories means Mr Hunt, a former well being secretary, faces a battle to hold on within the ‘blue wall’ seat.
The Liberal Democrats would be the predominant challengers within the seat. The get together took management of Surrey Heath Council in Might 2023 and has additionally grow to be the biggest get together in Waverley Borough Council in Mr Hunt’s space.
Paul Fellows, a council chief campaigning on the NHS, will stand for the Lib Dems within the seat, having run for South West Surrey on the 2019 common election.
Grant Shapps
Grant Shapps, the defence secretary, has a majority of 10,995 in Welwyn Hatfield however the dimension of the swing away from the Tories means he’s additionally in danger.
Labour got here second within the seat on the 2019 common election, securing 31.6 per cent of the vote.
Andrew Lewin, who has labored in social housing, has been chosen because the get together’s candidate for the 2024 election.
Penny Mordaunt
Penny Mordaunt is alleged to be on manoeuvres to take the Tory management crown ought to Mr Sunak lose the election.
However the Home of Commons chief may discover she is transferring out of Westminster altogether come 5 July, if the polls ring true.
She holds a majority of 15,780 in Portsmouth North.
Labour, which got here second within the second in 2019, has chosen Amanda Martin, a former instructor, to run for the seat.
Johnny Mercer
Johnny Mercer, the veterans minister, has a majority of 12,897 in Plymouth Moor View – the seat he pinched from Labour in 2015.
Labour might be hoping to win the constituency again and present polling suggests the get together is in with a shout of doing simply that.
Fred Thomas, a former royal marine, will stand for the get together this yr.
Sir Iain Duncan Smith
Sir Iain Duncan Smith, who has been an outspoken critic of China, is defending a majority of simply 1,262 in Chingford and Woodford Inexperienced.
The previous Tory chief has held the seat since 1992 however faces a serious battle to carry on to it this yr.
The outer London seat is close to the highest of Labour’s goal record and Dr Faiza Shaheen, a tutorial and economist within the area of financial inequality, will stand for the get together this yr.
Jacob Rees-Mogg
Arch-Brexiteer Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg is among the many different huge names who may face shedding his seat after spending greater than a decade within the Commons.
Sir Jacob, who beforehand served because the enterprise secretary and was knighted final yr, retained his North East Somerset seat with a wholesome majority of 14,729.
However a YouGov ballot revealed earlier this yr discovered Sir Jacob was trailing his predominant challenger within the seat, which can grow to be North-East Somerset and Hanham.
Labour has chosen West of England Mayor Dan Norris as its candidate for the seat. He misplaced it to Sir Jacob in 2014.
The Lib Dems say they’re the primary challengers within the seat.
Steve Baker
Steve Baker, the self-styled Brexit “hardman”, was instrumental in bringing down former prime minister Theresa Might.
However his personal political profession may have simply weeks left to run – the MP for Wycombe is defending a majority of simply 4,214.
Labour, who got here second within the seat on the final election, has chosen Emma Reynolds as its candidate for 2024.
Ms Reynolds was the MP for Wolverhampton North East from 2010 to 2019 and served as a shadow candidate from 2013 to 2015.
Suella Braverman
Suella Braverman may additionally discover she is on her manner out of the Commons lower than a yr after being sacked as residence secretary.
She is defending a majority of 26,086 in Fareham.
Labour got here second in 2019 and might be hoping for an enormous outcome come 5 July. The get together has not but chosen a candidate for the seat.
Liz Truss
Liz Truss could also be in search of a brand new job over the summer season after setting fireplace to the economic system throughout her quick stint as prime minister.
She is defending a majority of 26,195 in South West Norfolk however has been warned she could also be in danger.
Labour got here second in 2019 and has chosen Terry Jermy, a neighborhood businessman, as its candidate.
Rishi Sunak
Such is the scale of Labour’s lead within the polls that even Mr Sunak, with a majority of 27,210, is vulnerable to being booted out of the Commons, in accordance with one survey.
The prime minister has represented his Richmond (Yorks) seat since 2015 however may discover himself out of No 10 and the Commons in simply over six weeks time.
Ukip got here second within the seat in 2019. Labour just lately received the York and North Yorkshire mayoral contest within the space and might be hoping to win Richmond and North Allerton in July.
The get together has not but chosen a candidate for the brand new seat.
