UK Parliament dissolved ahead of July 4 election

Britain's Parliament was dissolved on Thursday, formally signaling the start of campaigning for the general election.

The surprise call was made last week by Conservative Party leader and current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and will take place on July 4.

A total of 650 seats will be contested, and under a voting system known as First Past the Post, which looks at the number of individual constituencies won, rather than the overall vote share received, whichever party manages to secure a majority of those seats will form the next government.