General election: Key dates and deadlines as campaigning gets under way

Political parties will be formally kicking off their General Election campaigns when Parliament is dissolved this week.

Ahead of the pre-Christmas poll there will be at least one leaders’ debate, a Nato summit and a number of deadlines for voters to keep to.

As the UK prepares to go to the polls for the election, here are the key dates and deadlines to make a note of in the run-up to it…

– November 6

Dissolution of Parliament. The 57th Parliament of the United Kingdom comes to an end officially just after midnight.

All 650 parliamentary constituencies become vacant at this point, and all current MPs become former MPs.

– November 14

Deadline for candidates to submit their nomination papers or to withdraw.

Candidates must deliver their completed forms by hand to their local returning officer by 4pm.

If no objections are raised, returning officers must publish a list of candidates by 5pm.

If an objection has been raised, returning officers have until 4pm on November 15 to publish the list.

– November 19

Leaders’ debate. ITV has confirmed that Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn will take part in a live televised debate on this date.

Other debates are likely to be held as the campaign unfold

– November 26

Deadline for applying for postal votes and to register to vote. All applications for a postal vote must be submitted by 5pm.

All applications to register to vote must be submitted by midnight.

– December 3-4

Nato leaders’ summit in London.

The summit is likely to dominate headlines thanks to the presence of US President Donald Trump.

– December 4

All applications for a proxy vote must be submitted by 5pm on this date.

– December 12

Election day. Polls will open 7am and close at 10pm.

The first results are likely before 11pm.

The last results might not be declared until the afternoon or evening of December 13.