UK parliament dissolves in anticipation of July election

The British Parliament dissolved early Thursday morning, May 30, ahead of the July 4 general election, poised to potentially bring Labour to power after 14 years of Conservative rule, Report informs via AFP.

Campaigning officially commenced as 650 parliamentary seats became vacant at one minute past midnight as per the electoral schedule.

The first week of campaigning saw a shaky start following Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's rain-drenched election announcement, with many observers interpreting the downpour as a bad omen. Sunak's decision to set the election for July 4, rather than later in the year as widely anticipated, is seen as an effort to regain momentum as his party faces a decline in opinion polls.