Unless you've been living under a rock and are happily oblivious, you've likely seen that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has confirmed that the British electorate will be headed to the polls on 4 July.
Announcing the news in a rain-drenched Downing Street, the PM said: "The question now is how and who do you trust to turn that foundation into a secure future for you, your family and our country?"
He added, "I cannot and will not claim that we've got everything right. No government should... but I'm proud of what we've achieved."
It's a big gamble for Sunak, who finds his Conservative Party lagging far behind Keir Starmer's Labour Party, and even according to some polls, Nigel Farage's Reform.
With the deadline to register to vote looming on 18th July, Cosmopolitan UK has you covered - here's a walkthrough guide of what happens now after a general election has been called.
What's next?
The general election offers everyone over the age of 18 across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland a chance to vote for who they would like to lead the country, by voting for their local MP.
Everyone's clicking on...
In the First Past the Post voting system we have in the UK, the electorate (anyone registered to vote) selects their chosen MP for their constituency and the political party with the most MPs at the end is the party that has overall control of the country. The leader of that political party – who is voted for by its members – then becomes Prime Minister.
Once a PM decides to call a general election, he or she will need to seek permission from King Charles, and once granted, parliament has a limited amount of time to push through any last minute business (e.g. signing off laws that still need Royal Assent otherwise they cannot pass). This period of time is called 'wash-up'. Any orders of business not completed in this time will fall off the agenda.
Once wash-up is over, parliament dissolves and there are no MPs until after the election and a new batch take their seats.
This is when we might see the Tories dethroned and Labour leader Keir Starmer moving in to Number 10...
In a new video posted in response to the news, Starmer said: "After fourteen years under the Tories, nothing seems to work anymore. Public services crumbling, ambulances that don't come, families weighed down by higher mortgage rates, antisocial behaviour... the list goes on and on.
"Give the Tories five more years and things will only get worse. Stop the chaos, turn the page, it's time to rebuild."
The big talking points
It's now down to the key parties to put forward a manifesto relating to the key issues they'll promise to focus on, should they enter, or remain in Number 10. It's likely that both main parties will go big on:
- The NHS: We all know our National Health Service is currently critically underfunded and is a cause close to everyone's heart. Last month, it was reported that close to 10 million people are awaiting a hospital appointment or to begin treatment. We can expect to hear plans on how to fix this from Conservatives, Labour et al.
- Housing: Many young people are struggling to afford their rent, especially in big cities, and to get on the property ladder and there is a nationwide housing shortage. In order to sway voters, it's likely manifestos will pledge ways to fix the housing crisis.
- Immigration: The Rwanda Bill, put in place by Sunak and co, has been especially divisive. It's suggested that the election has been called at this time due to the bill having passed and it being a 'sign' that Conservatives are dealing with illegal migrants.
- Cost of living: We've all felt the pinch over the last few years, especially following Liz Truss' brief stint as PM. It's possible Sunak has called the election now as inflation has dropped to 2.3% (the lowest rate in almost three years) and energy prices have slowly come back down (something the Conservatives can spin as a positive, to show Sunak has been getting things 'back on track').
How to learn more about your local MP
Want more intel on who your current MP is and their voting habits? Find out who is representing your area and check their voting record when it comes to the issues that matter most to you via They Work For You.
To find out more about who is campaigning for your vote in your area, you can pop your postcode into Who Can I Vote For? and see all the options. Be sure to do your research before heading to the polling stations.
How to register to vote
Not sure your admin is all in order and that you're prepped to tick the box? Firstly, it legit only takes five minutes to do - so it's well worth it!
You'll simply need to visit the Gov UK website to check that you're eligible to vote and if that's all good, you can choose whether to fill in the necessary details online or request a paper form to be sent to your home address.
If you have changed your name, moved house or changed your nationality since you last voted, you'll also need to re-register.
The deadline to vote closes on 18th June - it's important you register to have your say otherwise you will be unable to vote in the general election.
And remember: you now need photo ID to vote, so bring a passport or driving licence when you do vote. You can find a list of accepted ID here.
Jennifer Savin is Cosmopolitan UK's multiple award-winning Features Editor, who was crowned Digital Journalist of the Year for her work tackling the issues most important to young women. She regularly covers breaking news, cultural trends, health, the royals and more, using her esteemed connections to access the best experts along the way. She's grilled everyone from high-profile politicians to A-list celebrities, and has sensitively interviewed hundreds of people about their real life stories. In addition to this, Jennifer is widely known for her own undercover investigations and campaign work, which includes successfully petitioning the government for change around topics like abortion rights and image-based sexual abuse. Jennifer is also a published author, documentary consultant (helping to create BBC’s Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next?) and a patron for Y.E.S. (a youth services charity). Alongside Cosmopolitan, Jennifer has written for The Times, Women’s Health, ELLE and numerous other publications, appeared on podcasts, and spoken on (and hosted) panels for the Women of the World Festival, the University of Manchester and more. In her spare time, Jennifer is a big fan of lipstick, leopard print and over-ordering at dinner. Follow Jennifer on Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
