Chris Mason: Why did Sunak decide to call summer election?

The general election is on the horizon and it's going to be a significant event. The prime minister's announcement of the election date outside Number 10, with the rain pouring down and music blasting from just outside the Downing Street gates, set the stage for what's to come. For weeks, there had been a growing expectation that the election would be held in the autumn, giving the prime minister at least two years in office and providing the economic outlook with a greater opportunity to improve. A very senior government figure recently expressed skepticism about the prospect of a summer election, indicating that there was no reason to be excited. There were discussions about a very long campaign that might extend into the autumn, but not everyone was aware of this. Decisions can be on a knife edge, and there were those pushing Rishi Sunak to go sooner, including Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden.