Rishi Sunak has revealed his plan for the 2024 general election, saying he expects to hold it “in the second half of the year” despite intense pressure to hold a vote soon.
The Prime Minister said on Thursday he had a “valid assumption” that he would not send people to the polls in the spring; This led to accusations from the opposition that Mr Sunak was “bottling” big votes.
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer was quick to accuse the Conservative leader of trying to “settle down” in No 10 for months by “being indecisive and delaying” in facing voters.
Independent We understand that Mr Sunak plans to hold a general election in October. Sources say this will likely happen in the first two weeks of that month; The Prime Minister is unlikely to wait until mid-November as it would clash with the US election.
The Liberal Democrats, who called for an election in May, joined Labor in accusing the Prime Minister of being “afraid” of a poll in the spring. Leader Sir Ed Davey said the “slum Altar” was “desperately clinging on to power”.
Speaking during a visit to a youth center in Nottinghamshire, Mr Sunak told broadcasters: “So my working assumption is that we will have a general election in the second half of this year.”
The Conservative leader refused to categorically rule out elections in May but reiterated his intention to call an election later in the year. “There are a lot of things I want to do in the meantime.”
The Labor leader has taunted his Conservative rival over settling for an election within months, as bookmakers immediately slashed odds on an election in the autumn. “If he’s not speaking clearly and I don’t think he’ll set a date, what is he hiding?”
Sir Keir told Sky News: “I would like to see an election as soon as possible. “I think the majority of the people want to see elections as soon as possible… People cannot tolerate the Prime Minister remaining in office for months this year.”
Speaking to reporters at the end of his speech in Bristol, the Labor leader also said suggestions he wanted to avoid TV debates with Mr Sunak were “nonsense”, adding: “Go ahead.”
Conservative polling guru Robert Hayward told The Independent that most “serious” Tory MPs are in favor of an autumn election; but some worry that May’s local elections will only add to the “gloom and gloom”.
The Tories generally believe Mr Sunak was “wise” to wait in the hope of an economic recovery. And he said the Prime Minister was wise to rule out spring elections today to prevent Labor “perpetuating the ‘run away’ narrative”.
Lord Hayward added: “It is not without risks because local elections will be bad. But the polls are still very bad. “It’s also possible that if inflation and interest rates continue to fall, voters will be inclined to take his competence into account.”
Former No 10 Chief of Staff Gavin Barwell said Mr Sunak had been “sensitive in quashing speculation” about the spring election and that Labor had avoided the “trap” of allowing speculation to continue and “be accused of bottling it up when it wasn’t”. .
Meanwhile, Mr Sunak put the prospect of future tax cuts on hold, pointing to the easing of national insurance from 12 per cent to 10 per cent while speaking to a group of voters in Mansfield.
“We want to do more because when we manage the economy responsibly, we can reduce your taxes, give you and your family peace of mind… and confidence that the future will be better for you and your children,” he said.
The Conservative Party leader appeared to accept that progress would be difficult to make in 2023 but promised a “better year” ahead. “Look 2023, I’ll be honest, it hasn’t been the easiest years for any of us… I know 2024 will be a better year, I want to make sure 2024 is everything you believe it will be. To be a better year.”
Sunak also called on junior doctors to end their strike, with experts warning that industrial action puts the promise of reducing waiting lists at risk.
The Prime Minister backed NHS leaders after a number of hospitals called on junior doctors to leave the picket lines and return to work over patient safety concerns – also known as derogation requests. “These strikes are disrupting people’s lives,” the Conservative Party leader said. “They cause a lot of anxiety in people.”
He added: “It is absolutely right that NHS leaders, who are completely independent of the government, make clinical decisions on the ground. And they ask for extra support when they think they need it. Of course, they had my support in doing this.”
Sir Keir vowed to bring hope to “exhausted” Britain in 2024, accusing “miserable” Conservatives of “senseless populist” gimmicks in his speech in Bristol.
He said a Labor government would want to cut taxes but insisted that reversing slowing growth would be the first priority if it came to power at the next general election.
Mr Starmer also acknowledged that his planned £28bn-a-year green energy investment could shrink depending on economic conditions and said it would be subject to strict fiscal rules.
“The first lever we want to pull, the first place we want to go is growth in our economy because that’s what’s been missing for 14 years,” the Labor boss said. “Any tax cuts have to be fair and affordable, and we have to be realistic about that. But I think the place to go is to grow on this.”