Rishi Sunak’s General Election Decision Sparks Rush for Candidates
Rishi Sunak’s decision to hold a general election in early July has triggered a rush across all political parties to find the remaining candidates to contest constituencies nationwide, with the number still running to the hundreds.
Political Parties Scramble to Finalize Candidates
Up until the announcement of a 4 July vote, Westminster had assumed that the Prime Minister would wait until the autumn before going to the polls. This sudden decision has put pressure on officials across the political spectrum to finalize their lists of candidates for seats across the country.
Current Candidate Selection Status
While the exact number of candidates still to be selected remains uncertain, it is understood that Labour has up to 100 candidates to choose, while the Conservatives have nearly 200 yet to confirm. Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) aims to have all candidates in place within a fortnight.
Challenges and Tensions in Candidate Selection
There may be tension between local Conservative party associations and central command over candidate selection, with some preferring local candidates and others advocating for government figures to stand in safe seats. Labour is also facing similar challenges in candidate selection.
Tight Timeline and Vetting Concerns
Both parties face a tight timeline to be ready for the July election, raising concerns about the vetting processes to ensure selected candidates meet the parties’ requirements. The parties aim to avoid a scenario where unapproved candidates get elected, as seen in the 2019 snap election.
Upcoming Candidate Selection Deadlines
Remaining general election candidates are expected to be selected by Friday, 31 May. Labour’s NEC will meet on Tuesday, 4 June to endorse the chosen candidates, with further decisions to be made by the committee’s officers.
Both Conservatives and Labour are keen to select candidates strategically in seats where they are likely to win, to increase the chances of success in the upcoming election.
