‘Drowning Street’: what the papers say as Rishi Sunak makes his election announcement | General election 2024

Rishi Sunak’s decision to call a surprise general election for 4 July dominates newspaper front pages on Thursday, with the image of the rain soaked prime minister making his announcement outside No 10 proving to be a wellspring for headline writers.

The Guardian characterises the move as “Sunak’s big gamble”, and notes that his words were met with alarm by senior Tories who are concerned that the party – trailing 20 percentage points behind Labour in the polls – could face electoral wipeout.

“Drown & out”, is the Mirror’s headline, with an image of a sodden Rishi Sunak walking back into Downing St, the paper’s caption reading “under a cloud”.

The Times says “Sunak bets the house”. In its lead story the paper quotes pollster Prof John Curtice as saying the prime minister will be attempting to pull off a comeback “unprecedented in modern political history”.

Business focused paper City A.M. says Sunak has made economic stability and security bedrock issues of his election announcement. Above an image of a very wet prime minister making his pitch, the paper delivers one of the headlines of the day with “Drowning Street”.

Scotland’s Daily Record leads with a timely pun “Gone on the fourth of July”, pointing towards the date of the election, which the paper says has ignited a row over the proximity of the vote to the Scottish school holidays.

The PM’s “gamble” is reflected on the Financial Times front page, with “Sunak bets on July 4 election”.

The Mail says “Now is the moment for Britain to choose its future”. The paper says that Sunak has seized the initiative, however its main report features quotes from Conservatives outlining their fears ahead of the vote, with one senior Tory reportedly branding the move “suicidal”.

Weekly news magazine The Spectator managed to turn around a new cover with lightning speed, its latest edition adorned with an illustration of the PM, above the headline “The deluge”.

The Telegraph leads with “Sunak gambles on snap poll”, above a large image of the rain soaked PM making his announcement. The paper’s suite of commentary and analysis features a claim that “Starmer will be worrying now”.

“PM sets date for election” is the headline in the National, which quotes the first minister as saying the timing of the ballot shows “contempt for Scotland”.

The i characterises 4 July as “Judgement day”, with claims that the snap general election is an attempt to “catch Labour off guard”.

The Northern Echo notes that Sunak’s speech was “drowned out by downpours and Labour’s flagship rally song”, its headline asking: “For how long will he rain over us?”