United Kingdom General Election 2024 : (Date to be confirmed)

[Joe Republic]

What happened in 1993 to cause the Lib Dems to briefly push the Tories into third place?

[Joe Republic]

Sunak will be the fourth consecutive 'incumbent PM to lose a GE' who was previously a Chancellor of the Exchequer.

The last incumbent PM with Chancellor on his resumé to win all of his general elections was Harold Macmillan.

[Joe Republic]

Wasn’t Redwood the main alternative

Seems like Redwood was even being described as the candidate of the Tory Right

Yes, but if Major hadn't won a decisive enough victory* in the first round of voting, he intended to withdraw.  The scenario is that Heseltine would have entered in a second round and beaten Redwood.

This is pretty much what happened in 1990.  Thatcher beat Heseltine in the first round, but not decisively enough.  So she withdrew, then Major entered the second round and beat Heseltine instead.


* He set a personal goal of 215 votes.  He ended up exceeding that goal by only 3.

[Joe Republic]

Differing opinions on election date in the media today

Times: Sunak tempted to go for broke with summer election
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sunak-tempted-to-go-for-broke-with-a-summer-election-fzkdnx5j3

FT: Hunt to cut 2p of NI in Autumn Statement (suggesting October 17)
https://www.ft.com/content/4972e747-1297-4f81-8162-0b4d0d68c9af

Metro: With nothing left to lose either way, Sunak might call it as early as June.
https://metro.co.uk/2024/04/20/rishi-sunak-has-nothing-left-lose-may-hold-election-early-june-20685077/