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UK PM announces general election for July 4, 2024; Labour favoured to win

United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced that the general election in the UK will be held on July 4, 2024. Photo: BBC NEWS
Although The Labour Party is expected to defeat the Conservatives, the VI may be relieved to know that veteran Labour MP Dame Margaret E. Hodge will not be contesting the elections. Photo: BBC News
Although The Labour Party is expected to defeat the Conservatives, the VI may be relieved to know that veteran Labour MP Dame Margaret E. Hodge will not be contesting the elections. Photo: BBC News
Rishi Sunak became UK Prime Minister in October of 2022, after Mary E. Truss aka ‘Liz’ was forced to resigned after only 45 days in office. It was Truss who initiated the controversial Order in Council to give the United Kingdom (UK) appointed Governor the power to suspend the [British] Virgin Islands (VI) at a whim. Photo: AFP/Getty Images/File
Rishi Sunak became UK Prime Minister in October of 2022, after Mary E. Truss aka ‘Liz’ was forced to resigned after only 45 days in office. It was Truss who initiated the controversial Order in Council to give the United Kingdom (UK) appointed Governor the power to suspend the [British] Virgin Islands (VI) at a whim. Photo: AFP/Getty Images/File
LONDON, United Kingdom- United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced that the general election in the UK will be held on July 4, 2024.

The announcement came in a statement outside Downing Street today, Wednesday, May 22, 2024.

After discussing the COVID-19 pandemic, the furlough scheme, and the war in Ukraine, he said the question is "Who do you trust?" He also said he’s proud of what his government has achieved, including on NHS spending and education.

The Labour leader Keir R. Starmer said the election is the "moment the country's been waiting for" and that the country was ready for change. He also said with "patience and determination" there is "so much pride and potential to unlock" in the UK.

Labour Party favoured to win elections

Many had expected PM Sunak to set an election date for autumn or even in early 2025; however, his early date has drawn speculations that he is not optimistic things will get better.

It is believed that the Conservatives, who are expected to lose the elections, are better for the [British] Virgin Islands, especially since it is less harassing to the Virgin Islands’ offshore financial services sector.

A silver lining?

However, the good news for the VI is that veteran Labour MP Dame Margaret E. Hodge will not be contesting the elections.

Hodge has been an antagonist of the Virgin Islands financial services sector and in 2018 had spearheaded the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill brought before the House of Commons. The Bill, if enacted would have forced territories such as the VI, to implement 'Public Registers of Beneficial Ownership' by December 2020—a requirement that experts believe would have crippled the VI’s Financial Services Sector.

On May 24, 2018, thousands of persons in the Virgin Islands publicly demonstrated against the Bill. In March 2019; however, then-British PM, Theresa M. May announced the withdrawal of the Bill, saying Crown Dependencies are their own jurisdictions with their own democratically elected governments. As such, "they are responsible for their own fiscal matters.

Meanwhile, Sunak became UK Prime Minister in October of 2022, after Mary E. Truss aka ‘Liz’ was forced to resign after only 45 days in office. It was Truss who initiated the controversial Order in Council to give the United Kingdom (UK) appointed Governor the power to suspend the [British] Virgin Islands (VI) constitution at a whim.

Meanwhile, the UK Parliament will be prorogued on May 24, 2024, and will then be formally dissolved on May 30, 2024, Downing Street confirmed.

8 Responses to “UK PM announces general election for July 4, 2024; Labour favoured to win”

  • Bubble burst (22/05/2024, 18:21) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well look how you all went and burst my bubble. I thought this was about the BVI. Guvnah, what do we the people need to do so that we do not have to wait another 3 years. I aint hearing no 'no confidence' vote in the House.
  • Rubber Duck (22/05/2024, 19:30) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    It would be a serious mistake to hope for labour/socialist victory in the UK. Margaret Hodge, who inherited an offshore fortune and married even more money, was a small operator. There are many much worse in the socialist party that would love to bring the BVI to its knees!
    • WHAT!!!! (23/05/2024, 07:49) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
      Labour/socialist ??? You are having a laugh. Under Kier Starmer it's essentially "Tory Light" the UK is on it's knees and neither of these "choices" will do anything but line the pockets of their friends and family and continue the long standing tradition of making the poor significantly poorer and great in number.
  • Truth in reporting (22/05/2024, 19:38) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    On May 24, 2018, thousands of persons in the Virgin Islands publicly demonstrated against the Bill.

    Is this a true statement? Thousands of people? Seems like I was asleep maybe when thousands of people in the BVI did anything
  • asking for a friend (22/05/2024, 21:12) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Did it rain on his parade?
  • Maria Louisa Varlack (23/05/2024, 06:25) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
    is the united kingdom involved with genocide and ethnic cleansing and human right violation of other races and ethnic groups?
  • Maria Louisa Varlack (23/05/2024, 06:29) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
    is the uk being racist and prejudice and bigoted towards the british virgin islanders? is the uk being racially prejudice and racially bigoted towards british virgin islanders? is the uk working against our territory of the british virgin islanders and are they supporting british virgin islanders?
  • Maria Louisa Varlack (23/05/2024, 06:31) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
    is the uk involved in human rights violations in the british virgin islands?


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