A DATE for the UK's next General Election has been announced by prime minister Rishi Sunak this evening.

It has been revealed that the date for the 2024 General Election in the UK is July 4.

We have compiled this guide for people in Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber about the next General Election, the candidates and how to vote.

What is a General Election?

A General Election can be called by the prime minister at any time until December 17, 2024.

Once he has requested permission from the monarch to hold a General Election, a date will be set for the dissolution of Parliament. The General Election will then be held 25 days after Parliament is dissolved.

There are normally several days between an election being called and Parliament being dissolved to allow for any outstanding parliamentary business to be finished.

When Parliament is dissolved, every seat in the House of Commons becomes vacant.

In 2019, SNP MP Brendan O'Hara won the vote for the former Argyll and Bute constituency with 21,040 votes followed by 16,930 votes for Conservatives Gary Mulvaney.

Last year, the Boundary Commission for Scotland cut Lochaber in half for the next General Election, adding the south to Argyll and the north to Inverness.

This means that this is the first time that new constituency Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber will fight for a seat in the House of Commons.

Meet the Argyll and Bute candidates - and what you need to know

There will be four confirmed candidates so far seeking to representing Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber in this General Election.

Scottish Conservative - Amanda Hampsey

Helensburgh Advertiser: Amanda Hampsey will be standing for the Scottish ConservativesAmanda Hampsey will be standing for the Scottish Conservatives (Image: Newsquest)

Amanda Hampsey was elected in May last year as a Scottish Conservative and Unionist Councillor for the Oban South and the Isles ward on Argyll and Bute Council.

Cllr Hampsey, a mother of five, currently serves as the policy lead for Argyll and Bute Council's care services and is the depute policy lead for planning and regulatory services.

Previously the Conservative candidate at the last two UK General Elections, in 2019 and 2017, was the party's Helensburgh Central councillor, Gary Mulvaney. 

On each occasion, he was runner-up to the SNP's Brendan O'Hara, who has held the seat since capturing it from the Liberal Democrats in 2015.

The party's share of the vote in 2015 was 14.9 per cent, but Cllr Mulvaney increased that to 33.2 per cent in 2017 and 35.2 per cent two years later.

Labour - Hamish Maxwell

Helensburgh Advertiser: Former Royal Navy officer Hamish Maxwell is Labour's candidate in Argyll, Bute and South LochaberFormer Royal Navy officer Hamish Maxwell is Labour's candidate in Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber (Image: Contributed)

Former naval officer Hamish Maxwell was announced as the Scottish Labour's candidate for the General Election in April.

Mr Maxwell is an investment specialist who was previously based at Faslane, where he "helped lead crews on both ships and submarines".

The party says Mr Maxwell is currently working at a Scottish asset management firm, but that he spent his childhood living in social housing.

Mr Maxwell is married with young children, and enjoys time outdoors with their Labrador, Dougal.

SNP - Brendan O'Hara

Helensburgh Advertiser: Brendan O'Hara is to stand again in the next general electionBrendan O'Hara is to stand again in the next general election (Image: Brendan O'Hara)

SNP's Brendan O'Hara has been Argyll and Bute's MP for the last nine years, but this is the first time he is standing for the new Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber constituency.

At the end of last year, he was promoted to the position of SNP's Foreign Affairs spokesperson following a major reshuffle of Stephen Flynn's front bench team at Westminister.

He previously served as the party's Digital, Culture, Media and Sport spokesperson from 2017 to 2018, the SNP Defence spokesperson from 2015 to 2017, and SNP International Development spokesperson from 2022 to 2023.

He was thankful to receive over 86 per cent of local party members' votes.

Liberal Democrats - Alan Reid

Helensburgh Advertiser: Alan Reid will be representing the Liberal DemocratsAlan Reid will be representing the Liberal Democrats (Image: Liberal Democrats)

Alan Reid previously served as the MP for the area from 2001 until 2015, when he was defeated by the SNP's Brendan O'Hara.

He fought the seat again when former Prime Minister Theresa May called a snap election in June 2017, but trailed a distant third behind Mr O'Hara and the Conservative candidate Gary Mulvaney.

Mr Reid, who is also a former Argyll and Bute councillor, contested the seat again at the last UK poll in December 2019, again finishing in third place behind the same two candidates for the SNP and Conservatives.

He was selected after a postal ballot of all Liberal Democrat members in the constituency.

How do I register to vote in the General Election?

If you are unsure whether you are registered to vote or not, you can check by contacting your local Electoral Registration Office.

You can go to the UK Government website and enter your postcode to find your nearest one.

Where do I go to vote for the General Election?

If you are registered, you should receive a polling card through the post informing you of the location of your nearest ballot box.

You can only vote at the polling station location on your card.

However, if you are unsure then you can go to the website here to find your nearest polling station.

You do not need to bring your polling card with you in order to vote as it is not recognised as proof of registration.

Do I need ID to vote in the General Election?

Voters across the UK will be required to show ID to vote in General Elections. This is the first time that voters will need to show ID.

You can use any of the following accepted forms of photo ID when voting at a polling station.

International travel

Passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state or a Commonwealth country

Driving and Parking

  • Driving licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state (this includes a provisional driving licence)

  • A Blue Badge

Local travel

  • Older Person’s Bus Pass

  • Disabled Person’s Bus Pass

  • Oyster 60+ Card

  • Freedom Pass

  • Scottish National Entitlement Card

  • 60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card

  • Disabled Person’s Welsh Concessionary Travel Card

Proof of age

  • Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)

Other government issued documents

  • Biometric immigration document

  • Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)

  • National identity card issued by an EEA state

  • Electoral Identity Card issued in Northern Ireland

  • Voter Authority Certificate

  • Anonymous Elector's Document

You will only need to show one form of photo ID. It needs to be the original version and not a photocopy.

You can still use your photo ID if it's out of date, as long as it looks like you.

The name on your ID should be the same name you used to register to vote.

For more information about Voter ID visit Argyll and Bute Council's website at argyll-bute.gov.uk/my-council/elections/voter-id