Rishi Sunak announcement LIVE: Prime Minister speaks outside Downing Street

The Prime Minister is set to address the public from Downing Street this evening.

The speech was only announced this afternoon, with No 10 confirming Rishi Sunak will be travelling from Scotland to London immediately to speak. It comes after many expect an election to take place this year, with one legally having to be held by January 2025.

But, it is understood that this speech will not be used to announce a general election. Instead, Mr Sunak is expected to speak about recent events in the UK.

Read more: Rishi Sunak says 'stick with us' as he confirms general election will be held in 2024

The speech follows the victory of George Galloway in yesterday's Rochdale by-election. Galloway has been a polarising figure in the past, having been kicked out of the Labour Party in 2003.

But he won a huge victory in Rochdale, taking nearly 40% of the vote.

Speaking ahead of Mr Sunak's statement today, a Downing Street spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister’s address will touch on recent events, including in Parliament last week, and the need to protect our democratic processes."

Read below for the latest updates...

Speaking outside Downing Street on Friday, he said:

“We are a country where we love our neighbours and we are building Britain together. But I fear that our great achievement in building the world’s most successful multi-ethnic, multi-faith democracy is being deliberately undermined.

“There are forces here at home trying to tear us apart. Since October 7th, there have been those trying to take advantage of the very human angst that we all feel about the terrible suffering that war brings to the innocent, to women and children, to advance a divisive, hateful ideological agenda.

“On too many occasions recently, our