LIVE UK general election latest: Day one in the race for Downing Street as campaigns kick off in Westminster after Rishi Sunak calls snap vote for July 4 By Jamie Bullen Published: 07:49, 23 May 2024 | Updated: 08:47, 23 May 2024 e-mail View comments Advertisement Election campaigns get under way today with politicians dashing across the country to secure votes for their parties after Rishi Sunak called a vote for July 4. Mr Sunak is set to embark on a whistle-stop tour of all four nations of the UK, while his rival Keir Starmer heads to the south east for Labour's first major event in a traditional Conservative heartland. It comes after the Prime Minister sprung a surprise on the steps of Downing Street last night by triggering a contest in the pouring rain after a day of frenzied speculation that a date had been set.
Follow MailOnline's live coverage below 07:57 Read: Let battle commence! Sunak kicks off campaign with personal attack on Starmer Our political editor James Tapsfield writes how Rishi Sunak launched a highly personal attack on Keir Starmer as he urged voters to back his 'bold' vision for the country. Read his story here: 'Underdog' Rishi Sunak hits the election campaign trail Rishi Sunak has been giving interviews from Derbyshire after shocking the country - and his own MPs - by pulling the trigger on a July 4 contest. Mail Online 07:45 Greens - Votes for us aren't 'wasted' Voting for the Greens is “not a wasted vote”, its co-leader Carla Denyer has said wi.