In Pictures: Sunak, Starmer and stunts during the 2024 general election campaign

Party leaders travelled the length and breadth of the UK as they tried to win votes at the general election.

Published Dec 29, 2024

Photographers from the PA news agency captured a whole host of incredible images during the 2024 general election campaign.

And perhaps the most memorable of all came at the very start when then prime minister Rishi Sunak, drenched in rain, announced from a wet Downing Street that the UK would go to the polls on July 4.

A rain-soaked Rishi Sunak announces the date of the general election outside 10 Downing Street — Rishi Sunak chose to announce the general election outside Downing Street with no umbrella despite the rain (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

General Election campaign 2024 — Sir Keir Starmer during a visit to the Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu temple in Kingsbury, London (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Rishi Sunak is watched by members of Nuneaton Cricket Club as he bowls a white cricket ball — Rishi Sunak tried to bowl voters over during a visit to Nuneaton Cricket Club (Jonathan Brady/PA)

John Swinney smiling while holding an ice cream in his right hand — SNP leader John Swinney followed in the footsteps of countless politicians before him when he posed for a photo with an ice cream while out campaigning (Lesley Martin/PA)

Sir Ed Davey falls into the water while paddleboarding on Lake Windermere — Sir Ed Davey threw himself into the general election campaign in more ways than one (Peter Byrne/PA)

Sir Ed Davey screams and holds his arms out wide as he takes part in a bungee jump — The Lib Dem leader took part in a bungee jump during a visit to Eastbourne Borough Football Club in East Sussex (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Sir Ed wasn’t the only one having fun, however, as the following images show.

Angela Rayner holds two red paddles in the air while wearing a hi-vis jacket — Labour’s Angela Rayner attempting to marshal in a new government during a visit to Stansted Airport (Joe Giddens/PA)

Rishi Sunak holds a lobster in each of his hands while wearing a life jacket on board a boat — Rishi Sunak went fishing for votes during a visit to North Devon (Leon Neal/PA)

Nigel Farage surrounded by people immediately after having a drink thrown over him — Nigel Farage had a drink thrown over him after launching his general election campaign in Clacton (James Manning/PA)

Rishi Sunak photographed in a way that makes him look like he's got large Mickey Mouse ears on his head — Even the most meticulous planning can’t prevent some silly photos from slipping through the net, however (Aaron Chown/PA)