The prime minister has announced that the general election will be held on 4 July.

He made the announcement in a statement outside parliament earlier today.

It was already known that the election would be held in the second half of the year, but July is earlier than many expected.

The announcement follows recent council elections where the Conservatives suffered widespread losses.

Professor Pat Cullen, RCN general secretary and chief executive said: “General elections are our greatest democratic exercise, and would-be MPs will need to earn the nursing vote in the coming weeks.

“Candidates and canvassers will ask for your support, and you must challenge them to show you their plans for nursing and where you work.

“Together, we must push for firm commitments from all parties – things have got to change. Your patients need safer care, and you need fairer treatment – and that must start with pay. All of these issues must be central to the election debate in the coming weeks.

“In the almost 5 years since the last election, a global pandemic and repeated NHS and social care crises have exposed the frailties in our most important services.

“I’ve sent a clear message to all party leaders tonight: do not make the NHS and social care a political football.

“But don’t think you can get by on just platitudes either. For voters, investment in health and care services is the number one priority. They know, like we do, that it is fundamental to securing a healthy society and economy. Politicians must now show they have the answers to health and care workforce shortages and poor population health.” 

Sir Julian Hartley, chief executive, NHS Providers, said: "We urge politicians to rally round our 'next generation' NHS. We need health services fit for the future with patients and communities at the heart of conversations.

"Public satisfaction with the NHS is at an all-time low, reflecting many people’s experiences of the relentless pressure on GPs, hospitals, ambulances and mental health and community health services. But public support for the fundamental principles of the NHS remains rock-solid.

"Demand for health and social care services is increasing and getting more complex as providers and staff work flat out in tough conditions to give patients safe, first-class care.

"The next government and the NHS must work hand in hand to create the picture of health for the nation we all want to see."