Election - what on earth? Explain to me please!

[HollyMollyDolly]

Ok this is quite embarrassing!

I've recently joined the Civil Service at the grand age of 35 and there's been a lot of talk about the election. So far, I've managed to excuse myself from the conversations because I have 0 idea what is happening.

I struggle a bit with anxiety so tend to avoid the news and I've never understood politics but now it seems I need to.

Can someone please explain to me, in stupid person terms, what's actually going on and why Rishi Sunaks latest announcement is a big deal?

Are you asking what is a general election or what does it mean for you as a civil servant?

Do you know what an election is? Have you ever voted?

Google “purdah”.

ETA - actually don’t. Start here. https://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/purdah/

My mind is blown that you passed assessments for Civil Service but have no clue what an election means.

Explains a lot about the state we are in if it's true.

Honestly, you need to start reading the papers or you’ll struggle at work. Especially in the civil service if you have no idea what’s going on in the wider world.

How can you be asking this when you are 35?

The period of purdah before the election means the civil service has to pay particular attention to political neutrality and follow the rules of purdah.

Thanks for the helpful comments. Not so much for the judgemental ones, given you don't actually know why I don't know much about this.

Ignore the fun pokers @HollyMollyDolly every thread gets them. Your question is very broad though - the bigger picture- do you mean literally what is a general election and why does it matter? Or can you be more specific?
Well done for asking.

Please don't feel embarrassed!! I've worked in house in public sector and CS all my career and don't think it's a disaster you don't know. Yes higher up posts, those who work in policy or lot of roles need to know this stuff. Those working in post room/drivers/admin/cleaning staff are a hugely important part of the team and really don't need the same level of political understandings. Read some of the links and try to get an understanding of how it might impact whatever dept you work for. Your colleagues might be anxious or more stressed over summer depending on how they're likely to be affected.

If you told us why you could get more tailored, and therefore more helpful, responses.

Sorry, I was being broad to avoid the negative comments, backfired a bit!

So I understand the period of purdah. The impression I got from watching the news is that Rishi's announcement seemed unexpected, why is that? Does it not happen at exactly the same time each year?

He has called it earlier than expected - it was broadly thought that it would happen oct/nov

It is slightly concerning that you've got to the age of 35 and don't realise this doesn't happen every year.
Do you not remember the last general election was in 2019?

Well the bigger picture is that the PM has called a general election for 4 July and after that we will have a new government.

For the majority of people it's a big deal because it matters who is running the country.

But if you don't watch the news and take no interest in politics then it's obviously not a big deal to you, so you don't really need to do anything!

People don't mean to be unkind but probably just astonished that someone can go through life not knowing that a looming general election is a big deal.

And the general election is not every year it's every 4-5

I don't see how my life story would impact the information I'm asking for.

There is absolutely no need for comments on my age or understanding. I've asked for information, negative digs aren't providing that.

If you explained that you don’t know how the period before an election works in the civil service you would get specific responses to that. But your opening post reads like you don’t know what an election is.

No unlike most other mature democracies the UK places the calling of an election firmly in the hands of the PM.

The last one was in 2019 and the next has to be called by the end of this year. Witihn that it's entirely in Rishi's hands.

The surprise is that he's gone for July when he could have, and was expected to, hang on until the autumn.

https://www.twinkl.co.uk/teaching-wiki/general-election

If you work for the civil service don’t you think you should know more about politics and how the system works

I'm guessing that @HollyMollyDolly was not born/raised in the UK.

I am doing now I'm in a better place. I am getting more involved with keeping up to date so I can actually join conversations in the kitchen.

Why ? MPs don't