How UK ministers were given an hour’s notice before Rishi Sunak announced snap elections

Rishi Sunak, the UK Prime Minister, stunned his senior ministers and the nation by calling a snap general election for July 4, a decision he had already communicated to King Charles III.

RIshi Sunak provided his top ministers with just over an hour’s notice before the public announcement. Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt and Foreign Secretary David Cameron, who had to cancel a trip to Albania to attend the Downing Street meeting, were among those surprised by the move. Cameron remarked that the decision “seizes the initiative, sets the agenda and forces the choice,” according to insiders.

The ayes and nos

Not all were convinced. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps voiced reservations, while Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho, a loyal supporter from Sunak’s Treasury days, defended the move, noting Rishi Sunak’s history of not following the consensus on major issues like Brexit, pandemic lockdowns, and net zero. Communities Secretary Michael Gove supported Sunak’s decision, quoting the Special Air Service motto, “Who dares wins.”

The decision by Rishi Sunak, presented as a fait accompli signed off by the monarch, was a calculated gamble to prevent his ministers from changing his mind. Within 48 hours, Gove joined numerous Tory MPs announcing their intention to step down after the election.

Weeks of planning

Spokespeople for Rishi Sunak, Cameron, Shapps, Hunt, and Coutinho declined to comment on the situation. The announcement was the result of weeks of planning, revealing that reservations existed not only within the Cabinet but also among Sunak’s closest aides. Some aides initially opposed the idea of a snap election but eventually aligned with the decision.

The gamble by Rishi Sunak initiates a challenging six-week campaign against Keir Starmer’s Labour Party, which currently leads in the polls. Critics within the Conservative Party argue that calling an election while trailing by 20 points is a risky move, with some suggesting it cements a likely defeat. They believe Rishi Sunak should have waited for a potential misstep by Starmer.

Effect of snap election in the UK

The decision has also disrupted other plans. Sunak’s controversial policy to deport asylum-seekers to Rwanda, seen as crucial for countering the right-wing Reform UK party, will not begin until after the election. Additionally, the government ran out of time to pass a landmark smoking ban, which was anticipated to be one of Sunak’s key achievements.

Why the snap elections in the UK

Conflicting reports from advisers about who pushed for the snap election add to the tension surrounding the campaign. Rishi Sunak and his chief of staff, Liam Booth-Smith, grew frustrated that measures like tax cuts failed to shift poll numbers. They believed an early election could turn the focus away from the Conservative Party’s record and towards future choices for the country.

Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, campaign chief Isaac Levido, and advisor James Forsyth eventually supported the summer election strategy. Sunak’s team hopes to use imminent manifesto announcements to demonstrate his willingness to take “bold action,” aligning with the Tory election slogan.

However, internal skepticism remains. Nearly 80 Conservative MPs have already announced they will not run in the election, a figure surpassing the number of Labour MPs who stepped down before the party’s landslide victory in 1997. This number is expected to grow, reflecting the party’s uncertainty about the strategy of Rishi Sunak.