Why would Rishi Sunak call an election now?

Prime minister expected to announce snap summer election

 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks to the media
Rishi Sunak called today's inflation data a 'major milestone'
(Image credit: Jordan Pettitt / Pool / Getty Images)

Rishi Sunak looks set to announce a snap summer general election at any moment.

The next national vote has to be held by 28 January 2025, but the prime minister has so far refused to put a date in the diary. He is expected to do so this afternoon after the Tories, who aim to make the economy the "centrepiece" of their election campaign, "trumpeted" new data showing that inflation had fallen to 2.3%, said The Times

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Hollie Clemence is the UK executive editor. She joined the team in 2011 and spent six years as news editor for the site, during which time the country had three general elections, a Brexit referendum, a Covid pandemic and a new generation of British royals. Before that, she was a reporter for IHS Jane’s Police Review, and travelled the country interviewing police chiefs, politicians and rank-and-file officers, occasionally from the back of a helicopter or police van. She has a master’s in magazine journalism from City University, London, and has written for publications and websites including TheTimes.co.uk and Police Oracle.