UK elections to be held on July 4

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday set July 4 as the date for a national election that will determine who governs the United Kingdom, as his divided and demoralized Conservative Party faces its biggest challenge to its 14-year rule.

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"Now is the moment for Britain to choose its future," Sunak said in an announcement that took many people who expected a fall election by surprise.

He spoke on a day of good economic news, hoping to remind wavering voters of one relative success of his time in office.

But Sunak was drenched by heavy rain outside the prime minister's residence, and his announcement was nearly drowned out by protesters blasting "Things Can Only Get Better," a rival Labor campaign song from the Tony Blair era.

Sunak's center-right party has seen its support dwindle steadily.

The center-left Labor Party is strongly favored in the election. Labor leader Keir Starmer said his party would bring stability.

"Together, we can stop the chaos, we can turn the page, we can start to rebuild Britain and change our country," Starmer said.