The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak MP has today announced there will be a General Election on Thursday 4th of July.
Parliament will be formally dissolved on Thursday 30th of May with the election campaign period running from Thursday 30th of May – Thursday 4th of July.
Responding to the announcement, Alliance CEO Lisa Wainwright MBE said:
“Today’s announcement fires the starting gun on the General Election proper. This is a critical moment for our country but also for the future of the sport, recreation and physical activity sector and the role it can play in supporting a healthier, happier more prosperous nation.
“We know that the next Government – whatever its composition – will face significant challenges. The NHS and public services are under immense pressure. The economy is being held back by a rising tide of preventable ill-health. The cost of living is impacting the most disadvantaged. Our communities are characterised by deep inequalities. And climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss are affecting our everyday lives.
“The General Election is therefore a crucial opportunity to reimagine the role our members and the wider sport, recreation and physical activity sector can play in tackling these challenges.
“Our own research shows the UK ranks only joint 11th out of 15 comparable European countries based on levels of physical inactivity. But huge additional value could be unlocked if the UK were to reach the top of the leaderboard: an additional £1bn in healthcare savings from reduced spend on preventable disease, £3.6bn in GDP from improved productivity and £77bn in wellbeing uplift from improved quality of life.
“Throughout the election period we will be campaigning and advocating for policy change on behalf of our members and alongside our wider sector partners to put sport, recreation and physical activity at the heart of the next Government’s mission to transform the country.
“But change of this kind is dependent upon there being the political will and commitment from the very top of Government to make it happen.
“So we will be urging the next Government to show real leadership and commit to making the UK the most active nation in Europe to fully unlock the enormous economic, health and wellbeing benefits sport, recreation and physical activity brings.
Yesterday, the Sport and Recreation Alliance hosted a session of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Sport and Physical Activity, which took the format of a roundtable discussion on the economic value of sport and physical activity.
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This week (12 -18 May) is Mental Health Awareness Week, spotlighting the theme of 'Community'. This focus underscores the profound impact that belonging and collective engagement have on our mental wellbeing.
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The National Sector Partners Group (NSPG) has issued the following response to the Active Lives Adult Survey from Sport England.
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