Today, on a soggy Wednesday afternoon, prime minister Rishi Sunak announced a general election for Thursday 4th July.

For many, this was a shock. Most political commentators forecast an autumn election, with the latest polling showing the Conservative party languishing far behind Labour.

Over the last year, national polling has looked increasingly favourable for the Labour party. As they have gained, the Tories have declined, facing pressure from Reform on the right and Labour and the Lib Dems on the left.

Such results were reflected in the May local elections, albeit the turnout was low and localised issues often directed votes. And so it remains to be seen whether the country will vote for a change or a continuation of Tory rule.

Ultimately, what matters now is that people have their say, and that they exercise their right to vote. Every vote counts, and having your say is a fundamental part of any functioning democracy.

If you are unsure whether you will be able to vote on the day, make sure to register for a postal vote, and in the meantime, check out each party’s plans and your local candidates.

Lastly, the constituency boundaries have changed for 2024. This means that you may now belong to a new or changed constituency, representing a different area and potentially with very different voting intentions (particularly important for tactical voting).

ThisVoteCounts, 22 May 2024

View voting intentions, constituency boundaries and more for your constituency.