Throughout the afternoon, a slow trickle of rumours turned into a torrent.

As the skies opened and the rain fell, the drips of news kept coming. 

Just after 1 o'clock, foreign secretaryIn the UK, the politician in charge of how Britain deals with other countries. David Cameron cut short a visit to Albania. At 2.30, chancellor Jeremy Hunt pulled out of a television appearance. 

Reporters rushed to Downing Street10 Downing Street, in central London, has been the official home of the UK prime minister since 1735. . Something big was happening. 

At 5 o'clock, the news was confirmed. Sunak stepped out of Number 10 and into a downpour. "Earlier today I spoke with His Majesty The King," he declared. "We will have a general electionIn the UK, when an election is held for all 650 members of the House of Commons. One must take place every five years. on the 4th of July." 

So why call an election now? For a long time, the ConservativesA traditionally right-wing or centre right political party in the UK. Members are sometimes called Tories. have spoken of an election in "the second half of the year".¹ Technically, Sunak has kept his promise - but there is no doubt the timing is a surprise. Labour will now have to scramble to publish their manifestoA statement published by a person or group of people, especially a political party, or a government, in which they say what their aims and policies are. months before they expected.

Some point to a small series of good news headlines for Sunak in recent days. InflationAn increase in the price of goods in an economy.  has fallen back to 2.3%. His plan to send asylum seekersPeople who have left their countries due to danger and are seeking refuge elsewhere. to RwandaA country in the centre of Africa. At least 500,000 people were killed in the appalling genocide of 1994. has passed into law. Sunak wants these stories to stay fresh in voters' minds. 

Can this save him? Almost certainly not, most people agree. LabourBritain's main left-of-centre political party. is soaring ahead in the polls, at 44% to the Tories 23%.

If Sunak had waited, he may have had evidence to prove to British voters that life really is getting better, declared an editorialA newspaper article expressing the opinion of the editor on a specific issue. in right-wingSometimes referred to as 'conservative', this is a range of political beliefs that emphasise the value of tradition, individual freedom and responsibility, low taxes and a hands-off approach to government. magazine The Spectator yesterday. "Calling an early election is an admission of defeat." 

The Tories have been in power for 14 years, with five different leaders. In his speech, Sunak spoke of the Labour party. "I don't know what they offer," he told voters. Conservative officials hope that Britons will vote for what they know. 

Later, opposition leader Keir StarmerThe leader of the UK Labour Party since 2020 and British prime minister since July 2024. had one word on his podium: "Change." 

Is this suicide for the Tory party?

Yes: The polls for the Conservatives are abysmalVery very bad.. Many MPs have chosen to stand down rather than lose their seat. It is simply a question of how much the Tories will lose by.

No: Rishi Sunak will have chosen the timing of the election carefully. He has had some recent wins. Meanwhile, Keir Starmer has not yet faced his biggest challenges.

Or... A week is a long time in politics - or so the saying goes. And the Tories have six of them to turn it around. Much can change during a campaign.