The 2024 General Election

On 22 May, following weeks of speculation that the 2024 General Election would be held in the autumn, thus giving Rishi Sunak at least two complete years in office and allowing the economic outlook a greater opportunity to improve, he gave a speech outside Number 10. A rain-drenched Prime Minister, beleaguered with the knowledge that most of the electorate had had enough of him and 14 years of Tory rule, called the election for 4 July. Writing on the day of the announcement, Chris Mason, Political Editor, BBC News, reported that two very senior Government figures had very recently confirmed autumn as the date. Those favouring an earlier date, however, were worried if he did go for that, things could get even worse. In the event, Labour had a landslide victory, gaining 211 seats, giving them a total of 412; the Tories lost 251 seats, giving them just 121; Reform UK got five seats up from zero and Nigel Farage, who had become its leader the month before the election, won his first Westminster seat. Reform UK came third, with 14.3 per cent of the vote compared to the Tories’ 23.7 per cent and Labour's 33.7 per cent.

London rally

Just over three weeks after the election, on 27 July, thousands of supporters of far-right activist Tommy Robinson filled Trafalgar Square in central London after a march. In 2018, former Trump advisor Steve Bannon had described Robinson as ‘not just a guy but a movement in and of himself [who] represents the working class and channels a lot of the frustration of everyday, blue-collar Britons. … He is a force of nature … not built to be managed’.