ALL the signs that Rishi Sunak was gearing up to declare a General Election date were there - with the PM quietly planning for weeks.
Sun Politics Editor Harry Cole and Sun on Sunday Political Editor Kate Ferguson broke down the PM's shock announcement in a Never Mind the Ballots election special.
At 5pm today, Sunak announced he'll take on Sir Keir Starmer's Labour Party on July 4 for a long-awaited election showdown.
Drowned out by protestors blasting Blairite anthem, D:Ream's Things Can Only Get Better, the PM declared: "Earlier today, I spoke with His Majesty the King to request the dissolution of Parliament.
"The King has granted this request, and we will have a general election on July 4."
Michelle Mone's husband gifted Tories 'over £171k' as Covid PPE row rumbles on
And the signs were there months before.
In an emergency Never Mind the Ballots special, our experts told how the buildings blocks for the snap election had been carefully laid.
Harry said: “I suppose, if you were going to do a surprise election, you would be telling your opponents in the press that you would be going in October, but you can kind of see the building blocks were there, weren't they?”
He added: “I mean, despite the absolute tonking they got in the local elections. But there was a big announcement on defence spending.
“You had a big announcement on Rwanda - they got that bill through.
“Then there was a lot of stuff on benefits. You can see the manifesto blocks taking shape. When do you think Rishi Sunak decided, you know what - sod it, let’s do it."
Kate said: “I think that they've been in talks. Him and a small number of people inside Number 10 have been in talks with this seriously for a few weeks.
“It was an option that they've kind of ramped up, but I don't think they actually decide to pull the trigger on this for sure until incredibly recently.
“You can see that building. I mean, you can't see the building blocks of the announcements, you can see stuff that was going their way, like the 2.5 per cent on defence, the inflation figures.”
Mr Sunak will take on Labour Party in what is set to be a historic fight for the keys to No10, centred on the economy and immigration.
500 deaths is criminal and you can't blame it on strikers - Voice of the Mirror
Speaking from Downing St before hordes of cameras in the pouring rain, Mr Sunak said: "The last five years have been the most challenging times since the Second World War.
"Now I cannot and will not claim that we have got everything right. No government should.
"But I am proud of what we have achieved together the bold actions we have taken and I'm confident about what we can do in the future.
"Now is the moment to choose to decide whether we want to build on the progress we have made, or risk going back to square one with no plan and no certainty.
"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.
"Our economy is now growing faster than anyone predicted, outpacing Germany, France and the United States.
"And this morning it was confirmed that inflation is back to normal."
The PM added: "Earlier today, I spoke with His Majesty the King to request the dissolution of Parliament.
"The King has granted this request, and we will have a general election on July 4. This election will take place at a time when the world is more dangerous than it has been since the end of the Cold War."
Issuing a stark warning to millions of voters, Mr Sunak said: "On July 5, 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?"
Responding to Mr Sunak with his own speech, a defiant Sir Keir declared: "It's time for change."
He added: "Britain is a great and proud country. But after 14 years under the Tories, nothing seems to work anymore.
"Public services crumbling, ambulances that don't come, families weighed down by higher mortgage rates, antisocial behaviour on our high streets. The list goes on and on.
"Political chaos feeding decline, feeding chaos, feeding decline. The answer is not five more years of the Tories. They have failed.
"Give the Tories five more years and things will only get worse. Britain deserves better than that."
