Latest UK Election Odds as General Election confirmed for July 4th, 2024

Conrad Castleton

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Last updated: 22 May 2024

Conrad Castleton 22 May 2024

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The date of the next General Election has been confirmed
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announces UK will go to the polls on July 4th, 2024
Labour odds on to win majority 2024 UK Election

Rishi Sunak (Photo by CARL COURT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

BREAKING NEWS: The next UK General Election will take place on July 4th, 2024, with Labour odds-on favourites to win.

Prime Minister announced on Wednesday evening (May 22nd) that the Election will take place this summer, following a day of rumour and speculation that an announcement was imminent.

On Wednesday, cabinet ministers including Lord Cameron and Grant Shapps had rearranged foreign travel plans to attend a meeting with the PM, adding to the speculation.

It had also been reported prior to Mr Sunak's announcement that Home Office ministers' diaries were being cleared, while the chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, backed out of an interview on national television where he was scheduled to discuss the latest inflation figures.

Earlier in the day, Downing Street had declined to rule out a summer election, while at PMQs, Mr Sunak had repeated his stance that an election would be held in the second half of the year.

The prime minister was previously thought to be more likely to wait until the autumn before announcing an election, hoping for improvement in the polls.

Despite retaining confidence over the delivery of his controversial Rwanda deportation scheme, the PM is believed to have been persuaded it would be better to announce a contest now, rather than later in the year.

"I came to office above all, to restore economic stability," a wet Mr Sunak said on the steps of Number 10 as he delivered his speech shortly after 5pm on Wednesday.

"Economic stability is the bedrock of any future success. Whether that is rising wages and good jobs, investment in our public services, or the defence of the country.

"Because of our collective sacrifice and your hard work, we have reached two major milestones in delivering that stability, showing that when we work together anything is possible."

He continued: "We’ve tackled inflation, controlled debt, cut workers’ taxes and increased the state pension by £900. We’ve reduced tax on investment and seized the opportunities of Brexit to make this the best country in the world to grow a business, put record amounts of funding into our NHS and ensured it is now training the doctors and nurses it needs in the decades to come."

Sunak also again spoke of a more dangerous world and insisted his government has a clear plan to deal with "hostile states".

"The war in Ukraine has threatened global security," he said as the rain fell on Downing Street, and as he struggled to be heard over a loudspeaker playing D:Ream's "Things Will Only Get Better" song - New Labour’s 1997 election anthem - by nearby protestors.

"Migration is being weaponised by hostile states to threaten the integrity of our borders."

Prior to the announcement, a number of Tory MPs were said to be angry about the prospect of a summer election which will force many of them to cancel planned Whitsun holidays next week.

An unnamed senior backbencher was quoted by The Independent as saying: "This is utter madness. The Tory party is not ready, MPs are not ready.

"We need a break. This was the last chance for many to have a proper holiday. It shows that the PM does not give a s*** about backbenchers."

Several media outlets also reported on Wednesday afternoon that some Tory MPs were preparing to submit letters of no confidence against the prime minister.

Sunak's wrapped up by claiming that voters don't know what they're getting with Labour because leader Sir Keir Starmer doesn't keep his promises.

"I don’t know what they offer, and in truth I don’t think you know either," he said.

"That’s because they have no plan. There is no bold action. And as a result the future can only be uncertain with them.

"On the 5th of July, either Keir Starmer or I will be prime minister. He has shown time and time again that he will take the easy way out and do anything to get power.

"If he was happy to abandon all the promises he made to become leader leader once he got the job, how can you know that he won’t do exactly the same thing if he were to become prime minister?"

At time of writing, Labour are odds-on favourites to win Most Seats, priced at just 1/20 with bookmakers bet365.

Labour are also 1/9 with the same firm to win a majority following months of good polling numbers for Sir Keir Starmer's party.

Latest UK General Election Odds

Odds correct as of 16:15 BST on May 22nd, 2024 and courtesy of bet365:

2024 UK General Election Odds - Most Seats

Party	Odds To Win Most Seats
Labour	1/20
Conservatives	10/1
Lib Dems	200/1
Green Party	500/1
Any other party	40/1

2024 UK General Election - Odds To Win Majority

Party	Odds
Labour	1/9
Conservatives	25/1
No Overall Majority	11/2

2024 UK General Election - Government After Next Election Odds

Party	Odds
Labour Majority	1/9
Labour Minority	8/1
Labour/Lib Dem Coalition	12/1
Conservative Minority	12/1
Conservative Majority	25/1
Labour/SNP Coalition	33/1
Conservative/Lib Dem Coalition	50/1
Conservative/Labour Coalition	100/1
Reform UK Minority	100/1

2024 UK General Election - Prime Minister After Election Odds

Name	Odds to be PM
Sir Keir Starmer	1/20
Rishi Sunak	10/1
David Cameron	16/1
Penny Mordaunt	22/1
Nigel Farage	25/1
Boris Johnson	33/1

2024 UK General Election FAQs

When is the next general election?

The next UK General Election will take place on July 4th, 2024.

Who decides when an election takes place?

The prime minister decides, but this has not always been the case.

When did Rishi Sunak become prime minister?

Rishi Sunak became prime minister on October 25th, 2022 when he succeeded Liz Truss.

Who will win the next general election?

At time of writing, Labour are odds-on favourites to win Most Seats, priced at just 1/20 with bookmakers bet365. Labour are also odds-on to win a majority at 1/9.

How does the prime minister call a general election?

The prime minister formally asks the King to "dissolve" Parliament - the official term for closing Parliament ahead of a general election.

How is the general election decided?

The United Kingdom is divided into 650 constituencies. Each constituency elects an MP to represent local residents in the House of Commons.

Registered voters in each constituency vote for their preferred candidate either in their local polling station, or by voting by post in advance of election day. Each person has one vote.

Who can vote in a general election?

Anyone on the electoral register aged 18+ on polling day can vote in a general election, providing they are either a British citizen, a qualifying Commonwealth citizen or a Republic of Ireland citizen with a UK address.

UK citizens who live overseas are able to vote in the constituency where they were previously on the electoral roll.