Britons will head to the polls on July 4. Right here’s what it is advisable know in regards to the events, leaders, and key election points.

On July 4, Britons will head to the polls to decide on the following get together to steer the nation, after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak introduced snap elections on Could 22.

Polling suggests the vote will end in a Labour majority after 14 years of Conservative rule.

Right here’s what it is advisable know in regards to the upcoming UK normal election.

The UK, which consists of England, Northern Eire, Scotland and Wales, has a inhabitants of about 67 million and has the sixth-largest financial system on the earth.

When do polls open?

Polling stations throughout the UK will likely be open on July 4 from 7am to 10pm native time (06:00 GMT to 21:00 GMT).

When will the outcomes be introduced?

Exit polls on Thursday at about 10pm (21:00 GMT) will give a snapshot of the place voters stand, with a handful of outcomes being introduced earlier than midnight whereas most constituency outcomes are anticipated within the early hours of Friday.

In 2019, the Conservatives’ win was confirmed by about 5am.

How does voting work within the UK?

Voters in 650 constituencies throughout the UK will elect members of Parliament to the decrease chamber, the Home of Commons, by way of the first-past-the-post system. To win every constituency and acquire a seat within the Home, candidates have to obtain extra votes than any of their opponents.

A celebration must win at the least 50 % of the seats – 326 – to safe a majority within the Home of Commons and be requested to type a authorities by the monarch, King Charles III. The members of Parliament’s higher chamber, the Home of Lords, are appointed slightly than elected.

If no get together wins a majority, there’s a hung parliament.

How is the federal government structured within the UK?

The UK is a constitutional monarchy, which means the monarch, King Charles III, is the pinnacle of state. Nonetheless, the monarch’s roles are largely symbolic and ceremonial, for instance, granting royal assent on payments.

Parliament has a two-house system made up of the Home of Commons and Home of Lords, sitting on the Palace of Westminster.

• The Home of Commons consists of 650 members of Parliament (MPs) elected by the individuals.
• Not like the Home of Commons, the variety of members within the Home of Lords will not be fastened. As of June 20, 2024, it has 784 sitting members. It’s made up of life friends, hereditary friends and bishops.

The chief department of the federal government, which implements legal guidelines, is headed by the prime minister, who sits for 5 years and is answerable for appointing members of the Cupboard – senior ministers who’re often heads of presidency departments.

The UK has devolved governments such because the Scottish and Welsh Parliaments and the Northern Irish Meeting, all of which have a level of legislative energy.

UK’s present parliament

The Home of Commons consists of 650 seats, every representing a constituency throughout the UK.

Earlier than Parliament closed on Could 30, the Home of Commons was represented by 13 events and 17 independents, together with:

• The Conservatives – 344 seats (52.9 %)
• Labour – 205 seats (31.5 %)
• The Scottish Nationwide Celebration (SNP) – 43 seats (6.6 %)
• The Liberal Democrats – 15 seats (2.3 %)

The remaining 43 seats have been held by 9 different events and independents.

How have events fared in earlier elections?

The Conservative get together has been in energy for the previous 14 years, appointing 5 completely different prime ministers.

Within the 2019 election, the Conservatives received 43 % of the favored vote and secured 365 seats with Boris Johnson main the get together. They’ve since misplaced some seats, partly throughout by-elections, and now (pre-dissolution on Could 30 pending the election) have 344. The Labour Celebration, led by Jeremy Corbyn, received 32 % of the vote and garnered 202 seats in 2019. This has risen to 205.

The final Labour authorities was led by Gordon Brown, who led the UK from 2007 to 2010.

Who’re the principle leaders/events?

There are a number of political events within the UK, nevertheless, the 2 which have dominated the political area within the twentieth and twenty first century are the Conservatives and Labour.

• The Conservatives, also referred to as the Tories, are a centre-right-to-right get together, presently led by Rishi Sunak, who took over from Liz Truss in October 2022.
• Labour are a centre-left get together, led by Keir Starmer. They have been final in energy between 1997 to 2010 beneath Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.
• Liberal Democrats, centre to centre-left aligned, led by Ed Davey. In energy from 2010 to 2015 in coalition with Conservatives beneath Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, then chief of the Liberal Democrats.
• Greens, left-wing eco-politics, led by Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay.
• Reform UK, right-wing get together led by Nigel Farage.
• SNP, Scottish Nationwide Celebration, centre-left get together led by John Swinney.
• Plaid Cymru, centre-left-to-left-wing Welsh get together, led by Rhun ap Iorwerth.
• DUP, Democratic Unionist Celebration, centre-right Northern Irish half, led by Gavin Robinson.

What are the important thing points heading into the 2024 normal election?

The financial system, healthcare, immigration, a housing disaster and the surroundings are among the many most necessary points going through Britons earlier than the elections based on a survey by the polling firm YouGov.

The outcomes of the survey, as of June 24, are as follows:

• The financial system: 52 %
• Well being: 50 %
• Immigration and asylum: 40 %
• Housing: 24 %
• Setting: 20 %

It was a blast from the previous as “Again to the Future” star Michael J. Fox joined Coldplay onstage for a shock efficiency on the Glastonbury Pageant in Somerset, England.

The retired actor, 63, has been a faithful Parkinson’s illness activist since he was recognized with the long-term neurodegenerative illness at age 29. Fox, who now makes use of a wheelchair, performed a guitar in his lap throughout “Humankind” and “Repair You.”

Fox had beforehand carried out “Johnny B. Goode” with Coldplay after the band introduced him out for one more shock look in New York in 2016.

The primary act to headline the Glastonbury music pageant for a fifth time, Coldplay revealed to the viewers Saturday that Fox had impressed the British rock band’s formation within the first place along with his efficiency as teenager Marty McFly within the iconic 1985 movie.

“The primary motive that we’re in a band is reason behind watching ‘Again to the Future,’” frontman Chris Martin stated throughout the present. “So thanks to our hero perpetually, and one of the superb folks on Earth, Mr. Michael J. Fox.”

Martin led the gang as they sang alongside to the band’s 2005 hit “Repair You,” throughout which he snuck in a reference to the film.

“Go, Johnny, go, go, go,” he sang throughout the interlude, a callback to Fox’s McFly performing Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode” at his mother and father’ highschool dance.

When introducing him to the viewers Saturday, Martin described Fox in a singsong voice as “one who simply completely rocks, along with his Chuck Berry riff and the way in which he punched Biff,” the trilogy’s principal antagonist.

Earlier than retiring from performing in 2020, Fox’s decadeslong profession earned him 5 Emmy Awards, 4 Golden Globe Awards, two Display Actors Guild Awards and a Grammy Award.

He based the Michael J. Fox Basis in 2000 with the goal of discovering remedies and an eventual remedy for Parkinson’s illness.

Well being specialists in France have shared recommendation on how the general public ought to behave amid rising Covid circumstances and hospitalisations, together with on whether or not to check, self-isolate, or put on masks. 

After a lull because the finish of 2023, Covid is at the moment spreading once more, with an increase in optimistic PCR assessments in laboratories and hospitals. Waste water testing has additionally revealed a better presence. 

Learn additionally: Why Covid-19 hospital circumstances are rising once more in France 
Learn additionally: Covid-19 in France: Hospital consultations stay low, however rising

“This resurgence is linked to a mix of things: barely extra transmissible variants, poorer immunity, and seasonal occasions that encourage interplay and therefore transmission of the virus,” mentioned epidemiologist Dr Justine Schaeffer, from Santé publique France (SPF), to Le Figaro.

To date, the influence on the hospital system stays low, with 770 hospital admissions for suspected Covid within the week starting June 17, representing 1.1% of all hospital admissions. But, Dr Schaeffer warned that though figures stay low, the danger nonetheless stays.

“The virus is spreading and this isn’t that shocking; this additionally occurred in spring-summer 2023. And whereas figures are usually not particularly regarding, we should do not forget that Covid continues to be an sickness that may trigger extreme situations,” mentioned Dr Schaeffer.

Will we nonetheless want to check?

Testing has considerably decreased because the peak of the pandemic, and a current SPF confirmed {that a} third of individuals with signs had not had a check. 

Nevertheless, consultants suggest that anybody with signs ought to get a check, particularly if you happen to might keep in touch with an aged particular person or somebody with a compromised immune system.

 “Crucial factor is to get examined if you happen to reside subsequent to somebody susceptible to growing a critical type of the illness, in order that you don’t unknowingly infect them,” mentioned Dr Paul Frappé, president of the GP group le Collège de la médecine générale.

Are older assessments nonetheless OK to make use of? 

Many households doubtless nonetheless have bins of at-home assessments of their cabinets, leftover from the pandemic. However these are doubtless not legitimate, Dr Frappé warned. 

“They nonetheless work on the brand new variants, however they’ve a shelf life,” he mentioned. Relying on the producer, assessments expire from between six months and two years after the date of manufacture. Older at-home lateral circulation assessments could present a false unfavorable.

“A unfavorable self-test doesn’t imply that you simply wouldn’t have Covid, or another infectious illness,” mentioned Dr Schaeffer.

Ought to folks get PCR assessments?

PCR assessments (these accomplished with a swab, by well being professionals) are thought-about to be simpler and correct than at-home lateral circulation assessments.

Equally, you will be examined for Covid similtaneously different situations.

“At present, Covid, influenza and bronchiolitis are examined in parallel,” mentioned Dr Schaeffer. “Within the case of Covid, for instance, docs can prescribe Paxlovid to people who find themselves at excessive danger of progressing to a extreme type.” 

Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir or ritonavir) is an antiviral drug from laboratory Pfizer. It’s the solely drugs that GPs can prescribe to people who find themselves susceptible to growing a extreme type of the virus.

Do folks must self-isolate?

Whereas there are not any guidelines in place that require folks with Covid to self-isolate, it’s nonetheless advisable by well being professionals, to forestall the virus from spreading to weak people.

“You need to use your frequent sense,” mentioned Dr Schaeffer. “You probably have a respiratory an infection of any form, the less folks you see, the much less likelihood you may have of passing it on to others.”

Ought to folks nonetheless put on masks?

Individuals who check optimistic however who can not self-isolate are advisable to put on masks in public and round weak folks. Carrying a masks even if you’re not ailing may offer you some safety in public.

“Whether or not you have been examined or not, whether or not you have received Covid or one thing else, placing on a masks when you may have respiratory signs isn’t a waste of time,” mentioned xx Schaeffer. “Any masks is best than none, however the extra superior the tools, the higher the safety.”

Different preventative measures, together with hand washing and protecting areas remoted can be key, mentioned Dr Frappé.

What’s the vaccination state of affairs? 

Vaccination continues to be advisable, significantly for folks at larger danger (folks aged 65 and over, and/or with well being issues). 

Individuals aged over 80 and people with immunodeficiency ought to have a booster dose within the spring, three months after their final dose, to make sure they’re nonetheless totally protected.

Learn additionally: Subsequent Covid vaccination marketing campaign to start in France

“An annual marketing campaign is organised in autumn, similtaneously for influenza, with a vaccine tailored to the variants in circulation,” mentioned Dr Schaeffer.

Simon Case might step down in January, in line with reviews.

The cupboard secretary is about to remain on to supervise the transition between the Conservatives and the incoming authorities, with polls pointing to a brand new Labour administration.

Case is planning to stop within the early new 12 months, “after fulfilling his need to make sure continuity throughout a time of constitutional change, and having mirrored on his private circumstances”,  in line with The Instances.

The newest contender to interchange Case is Olly Robbins, a former everlasting secretary on the Division for Exiting the European Union below Theresa Might, in line with the newspaper.

Robbins was perm sec at DexEU from 2016 to 2017, then chief Brexit adviser and the PM’s adviser for Europe from 2017 to 2018.

He left the civil service in 2019 after Boris Johnson grew to become prime minister, becoming a member of Goldman Sachs. He’s at the moment works at Hakluyt, a consultancy arrange by a gaggle of former MI6 officers.

Robbins can be reportedly being thought-about for the Downing Avenue everlasting secretary position, which has been vacant for 2 years for the reason that departure of Samantha Jones. This was the position Case held earlier than changing into cab sec in September 2020. Earlier than Case, the position had been left absent for eight years.

Robbins joins an assortment of former and present perm secs who’ve been rumoured to interchange Case, together with:

• Dame Antonia Romeo, perm sec on the Ministry of Justice
• Tamara Finkelstein, perm sec on the Division for Atmosphere, Meals and Rural Affairs
• Jeremy Pocklington, Division for Power Safety and Internet Zero perm sec
• Sir Peter Schofield, Division for Work and Pensions perm sec
• Sarah Healey, Division for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities perm sec
• Dame Melanie Dawes, Ofcom chief govt
• Dame Sharon White, former Treasury second perm sec

Romeo has been the highest civil servant on the MoJ since 2021 and was beforehand perm sec on the Division for Worldwide Commerce. Finkelstein has led Defra since 2019, her first perm sec position.

Pocklington solely grew to become DESNZ perm sec final 12 months, following equipment of presidency adjustments made by Rishi Sunak, however has beforehand led the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Native Authorities and its successor DLUHC.

Healey, like Pocklington, modified jobs final 12 months because of the equipment of presidency adjustments, changing into perm sec at DLUHC, having beforehand led the Division for Digital, Tradition, Media and Sport.

Schofield has led the DWP since 2018, whereas Dawes has been Ofcom chief since 2021 and is a former perm sec on the Division for Communities and Native Authorities.

Dame Sharon White is at the moment chair of the John Lewis Partnership, however is stepping down subsequent March.

EUGENE, Ore. — Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone continued her dominance within the ladies’s 400 hurdles, setting (one other) world file Sunday at Hayward Discipline within the U.S. Olympic observe and subject trials finale. McLaughlin-Levrone crossed the end line in 50.65 seconds, then lined her mouth in shock upon seeing her time.

McLaughlin-Levrone’s earlier world file, additionally set at Hayward Discipline, was 50.68, which she ran on the 2022 World Championships. 

“Truthfully, reward God, I used to be not anticipating that,” McLaughlin-Levrone mentioned on the printed after her race. “Something is feasible in Christ. I’m simply amazed, baffled and in shock.”

Anna Cockrell (52.64) was second and Jasmine Jones (52.77) was third and can be a part of McLaughlin-Levrone in Paris.

Dalilah Muhammad, who gained gold in Rio and silver in Tokyo, completed sixth. 

McLaughlin-Levrone is the defending gold medalist within the 400 hurdles, and almost each time she traces up on the observe she units a brand new world file. She isn’t simply the favourite in Paris however anticipated to win by a large margin. 

However she swears that every race she lowers her time, she’s genuinely shocked, and grateful.

“I knew I used to be in 50-point excessive vary, and it was only a matter of getting a stride sample down,” she mentioned. “I knew the health was there. I used to be just a little shocked that it got here along with not the very best stride sample … there’s nonetheless extra we will work on.”

That work, and the potential outcomes, inspire her.

McLaughlin-Levrone desires of going sub-50 seconds and given her historical past, it does not seem to be a stretch.

“It is actually thrilling, excited about tips on how to enhance upon historical past,” she mentioned. “That is all the time one thing I am taking a look at.”

She referred to as the world file a “confidence booster” going into Paris.

Earlier than the ultimate, McLaughlin-Levrone’s coach, the legendary Bobby Kersee, inspired her to “not be afraid to take it out, to belief my health coming dwelling and simply execute my 10 hurdles.” 

“He’s all the time utilizing boxing phrases,” McLaughlin-Levrone mentioned. “So these have been my Joe Frazier’s immediately, the ten hurdles, simply ensuring I used to be centered on these. There was no time objective.” 

And sure, on this analogy, McLaughlin-Levrone is Muhammad Ali, himself a former Olympian. 

McLaughlin-Levrone will doubtless be on the 4×400 staff as nicely; she ran the primary leg of the relay on the Tokyo Video games, main the Individuals to gold. 

Relay staff swimming pools are anticipated to be introduced by USATF by July 8. 

McLaughlin-Levrone has flirted with the thought of working the 400 hurdles and 400, however the present Olympic observe schedule just isn’t conducive to that. Generally plainly McLaughlin-Levrone might win, or no less than contend for a medal, in any of the sprinting occasions. As of Sunday morning she had the sixth quickest 200 time this season, set Los Angeles in Might. 

“I simply wished to give attention to one … and do it to the very best of my capacity,” she mentioned. “That is why we selected the 400 hurdles. Right this moment was an excellent testomony of (doing) that.

“There’s nonetheless extra to return.”

Contributing: Tyler Dragon

Nationwide Financial savings & Investments (NS&I) has made two Premium Bond holders millionaires within the July draw. The winners are from Hertfordshire and Cumbria. 

The primary winner from Hertfordshire drew Premium Bond quantity 286HQ028274 and holds £50,000 in Premium Bonds. The Bond was bought in November 2016. 

The second winner resides in Cumbria and likewise holds £50,000 in Premium Bonds. The profitable Bond quantity 474HX772350 was drawn and it was bought in October 2021. 

Premium Bonds proceed at a standstill, with no change to the prize fund charge – at the moment at 4.4%. The chances of profitable additionally stay at 21,000 to 1 for each bond. 

The jackpot winners can have acquired a go to from Agent Million. In the event you did not grow to be a millionaire on this draw, there are nonetheless tens of millions of prizes ready to be claimed, value between £25 and £100,000. 

July 2024 Premium Bond winners 

There’s a whole of 5,927,312 prizes value £456,402,800 on this month’s draw. Listed here are the entire winnings. 

Learn how to test when you’re a July NS&I Premium Bond winner

In the event you’ve gained a prize value between £25 and £100,000, you will not have had Agent Million delivering the excellent news to you  – this is how one can test what you’ve got gained. 

The best option to test is to go onto the NS&I web site and use its prize checker. You’ll need your Premium Bond holder quantity and NS&I quantity at hand. In the event you’re checking for winnings every month, it may very well be value downloading NS&I’s official prize checker app in your cellphone (obtainable on Android and iOS).

In case you have an Amazon Alexa, you may set the system as much as notify you of your winnings too. You’ll need to obtain the Alexa app and activate the NS&I Premium Bonds prize checker ability. That is splendid when you’ve held Premium Bonds for some years, as you may test for prizes since 1986. 

How will my prize be paid? 

Most prizes are both paid into your checking account or reinvested into Premium Bonds, says NS&I. It is value double-checking that your automated funds are arrange on the NS&I web site, to allow funds to come back straight into your account. 

• July’s jackpot millionaires come from Hertfordshire and Cumbria
• ERNIE has drawn greater than 5.9 million prizes this month, price over £456 million

This month’s Premium Bonds £1 million jackpot winners come from Hertfordshire and Cumbria.

The primary Bond quantity drawn was 286HQ028274 and it belongs to a winner based mostly in Hertfordshire. This winner bought their successful Bond in November 2016 and holds £50,000 in Premium Bonds.

The second £1 million jackpot winner is predicated in Cumbria. Their successful Bond quantity is 474HX772350 and it was bought in October 2021. They maintain a complete of £50,000 in Premium Bonds.

July 2024 prize draw breakdown
A complete of 5,927,312 prizes price £456,402,800 will probably be paid out within the July 2024 prize draw. There have been 124,473,494,622 Bond numbers eligible for the draw.

Notes to Editors

1. The prize fund charge for Premium Bonds is 4.40%. The percentages of any £1 Bond quantity successful a prize are 21,000 to 1.
2. All Premium Bonds prizes are freed from UK Revenue Tax and Capital Good points Tax.
3. NS&I is likely one of the largest financial savings organisations within the UK, providing a spread of financial savings and investments to greater than 24 million prospects. All merchandise supply 100% safety as NS&I is backed by HM Treasury.
4. Additional info on NS&I, together with press releases and product info, is offered on the web site at nsandi.com. Observe us on X/Twitter: @nsandi.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone received the 400-meter hurdle closing and set a world file for the occasion on the U.S. Olympic Staff Trials on Sunday.

McLaughlin-Levrone, the reigning gold medalist and world No. 1, completed with a time of fifty.65 seconds. Simply over two seconds behind her have been Anna Cockrell and Jasmine Jones.

As the highest three finishers, all three secured a spot on the Olympic Staff for the occasion, main what could possibly be one among America’s strongest occasions in Paris.

McLaughlin-Levrone, the reigning gold medalist and world No. 1, barely broke a sweat within the semifinals Saturday with a 52.48-second effort to advance to the ultimate Sunday at Hayward Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.

A good-tempered McLaughlin-Levrone promised to “let it fly” on this meet’s final occasion.

McLaughlin stored the promise, crouching to the ground whereas protecting her mouth in shock after seeing her record-breaking time.

Following the race, McLaughlin thanked God and mentioned she was “amazed, baffled and in shock.”

Stream each second and each medal of the 2024 Paris Olympics on Peacock, beginning with the Opening Ceremony July 26 at 12 p.m. ET.

She was pushed by Cockrell, who recorded a private finest 52.95 within the semifinals to earn her spot within the closing — after which bested that through the finals with a time of 52.64.

In distinction to McLaughlin-Levrone’s businesslike demeanor, Cockrell couldn’t comprise her pleasure about breaking the 53-second mark for the primary time.

“It means I’m prepared,” she mentioned. “It tells me what we’ve been working for prior to now is working. I’m happy, I’m happy.”

The facility-packed subject in Sunday’s closing additionally included Tokyo silver medalist Dalilah Muhammad and Shamier Little, who received her warmth on Saturday.

After securing her Olympic spot within the 400-meter hurdles, second place finisher Cockrell mentioned she was “emotional” however needed to take the second to not discuss herself however about Muhammad, who Cockrell mentioned had “revolutionized” the occasion.

“The affect you have had on this sport goes past medals, goes past data,” Cockrell mentioned.

Muhammad completed sixth within the occasion, lacking out on a spot for it in Paris.

“Your grace, your poise, your competitors, your mentorship of me — I can not say thanks to ‘De’ sufficient,” Cockrell mentioned. “I wish to give her her flowers now.”

Tokyo silver medalist Keni Harrison, Rio silver medalist Nia Ali and Alaysha Johnson, who recorded the very best semifinal time of 12.36 seconds, competed within the girls’s 100 hurdles.

Harrison completed sixth and Ali completed fourth, lacking out on a spot on the group for the occasion.

The 100-meter winner was world No. 17 Masai Russell, adopted by Johnson and Grace Stark.

Rai Benjamin, who received silver in Tokyo, CJ Allen, and Trevor Bassitt clinched the spots for the boys’s 400-meter hurdles.

Benjamin and Allen turned within the high two closing instances — a meet file of 46.46 and a 47.81, respectively. Bassitt clocked in at 47.82.

TV critic Scott Bryan posted an image to his X account (previously Twitter) of music followers gathering across the TV in a discipline at Glastonbury and Louis Tomlinson followers have been fast to inform him that the singer was accountable.

Scott captioned the publish: “Unimaginable that somebody purchased a full dimension tv to Glastonbury to observe the England sport”.

One even posted a screenshot from a social media account which reveals the TV with the soccer commentary staff on it and tagging the singer’s account with the caption studying: “@louist91 absolute legend settin the footy up”, together with a laughing crying face emoji, suggesting it was Louis’ thought.

In the identical reply to Scott’s publish, Louis Tomlinson may be seen laughing amongst a crowd of individuals on the pageant.

Followers say Louis Tomlinson took “full dimension tv” to Glastonbury

Followers have been fast to level out that Louis loves to observe soccer and was behind the concept with one saying: “Not simply anybody that’s Louis Tomlinson”.

One other mentioned: “That’s the one and solely Louis Tomlinson!”

The Guardian’s stay Glastonbury weblog revealed that it was Louis Tomlinson who purchased the TV, generator and dongle to make watching the match attainable.

The newspaper reported that he went to Argos to purchase all of the tools he wanted this morning.

Louis informed the newspaper: “It’s the second display I’ve purchased. The primary one cracked. I wasn’t going to take credit score for it if we misplaced in regular time however now that we’ve equalised I’m pleased to.”

Really helpful studying:

The previous One Path star has been pictured alongside his sister Lottie Tomlinson on her Instagram story the place she joined him in sporting an England shirt whereas he wore a jacket with the England emblem on it.

England went on to win 2-1 towards Slovakia in further time and have progressed to the quarter-finals of the Euros.