By Ethan Davies

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham admitted that he didn't 'expect' the General Election 'to be this soon'.

In driving rain, Rishi Sunak called the poll for July 4 yesterday (May 22), triggering a six-week campaign. Although the Prime Minister has repeatedly said the election would be held 'in the second half of the year', many — including MPs within his own party — expected this to mean an autumn election.

And they were not the only politicians to be caught out by the timing. Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham admitted on Thursday (May 23) that he wasn't expecting a summer election.

Speaking from The Brick Community Stadium — home of Wigan Athletic and Wigan Warriors — to Kay Burley on television, he also confirmed he 'will be joining Sky News for the coverage of the coming General Election campaign', adding 'it will be a historic one'. 

"You weren't expecting it to be this soon, were you?," he was then asked by Ms Burley, who herself is from Wigan.

Mr Burnham replied: "No I wasn't Kay. It's great to be joining the team and I hope I don't prove to be one of the signings my football club are prone to make. I hope to be a better addition to the squad than that."

The mayor is a noted Everton FC fan, and the club have come close to relegation from the Premier League in recent years — but comfortably stayed up this season.

In the first day of campaigning proper, Labour leader Keir Starmer set out his stall to voters in Gillingham, saying 'this election is about a choice: Two different countries, two different futures'.

"Decline and chaos continuing under the Tories, or rebuilding our country under Labour," he added.

Meanwhile, Rishi Sunak said that flights to Rwanda, which are central to the Government's ambition to "stop the boats" crossing the Channel, will now take off "after the election".

"If I'm elected, we will get the flights off," he said. Pressed further on timing, he explained: "No, after the election. The preparation work has already gone on."

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