Rishi Sunak rules out spring 2024 general election

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Rishi Sunak has revealed the likely timeframe of the 2024 general election – saying he expects to hold it in the “second half of the year” despite intense pressure to call a vote soon.

The PM said on Thursday it is his “working assumption” that he would not send the public to the polls in the spring, as the opposition has been talking up in recent weeks.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer immediately accused Mr Sunak of “squatting for months and months in Downing Street, dithering and delaying”.

The Liberal Democrats – who have also been calling for Mr Sunak to hold the vote in May – joined Labour in accusing the PM of “bottling” a spring election.

Claiming the Tory leader was “running scared”, leader Sir Ed Davey said “squatter Sunak” was “holed up in Downing Street, desperately clinging on to power”.

Speaking on a visit to a youth centre in Nottinghamshire, Mr Sunak told broadcasters: “So my working assumption is we’ll have a general election in the second half of this year.”

The Conservative leader declined to rule out a May election categorically – but repeated his intentions to go for later in the year. “In the meantime I’ve got lots that I want to get on with.”

Despite speculation of an autumn poll, Mr Sunak appears keen to wait as long in the year as possible. Isaac Levido – the Tory party’s campaign manager – is said to have pencilled in 14 November to hold the election.

The Labour leader responded to the PM’s comments by taunting him to agree to an election within months. “If he is not being clear, and I don’t think he is setting 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 vast majority of the public want to see an election as soon as possible, and the reason is that the choice now is to turn our back on 14 years of decline and usher in a decade of national renewal with hope and change.”

“People can’t afford for the PM to be squatting for months on end this year,” the Labour leader added.

Meanwhile, Sir Keir pledged to bring hope to an “exhausted” Britain in 2024, as he accused the PM of “pointless populist” gimmicks.

Speaking to reporters in Bristol, the Labour leader also said it was “nonsense” to suggest he wanted to duck TV debates with Mr Sunak – saying “bring it on”.

Mr Starmer insisted he was happy to exchange views with Mr Sunak at any time, following reports that Labour aides would prefer he avoid televised clashes with his political rival. “I’ve been saying bring it on for a very, very long time – I’m happy to debate any time.”

It follows a report by the Sunday Times which claimed that PM’s team determined to pitch him against Sir Keir in a series of TV debates in the likely event of a general election this year. But it suggested that Labour aides are less enthusiastic about the prospect.

Meanwhile, Mr Sunak dangled the prospect of future tax cuts while speaking to a group of voters in Mansfield, as party leaders set out their stalls at the start of the big election year.

The PM promised further cuts ahead – as he pointed to the easing of national insurance from 12 per cent to 10 per cent.

“We want to do more because as we manage the economy responsibly, we can cut your taxes, give you and your family peace of mind … and confidence that the future is going to be better for you and your children,” he said. “That is the journey that we’re on.”

The Tory leader conceded that 2023 was challenging, but promised a “better year” ahead. “Look, 2023, I’ll be honest, it wasn’t the easiest of years, for any of us, it wasn’t an easy year for our country.”

He added: “I know that 2024 is going to be a better year, I want to make sure that all you believe 2024 is going to be a better year too.”

The PM claimed that he was confident of improvements because he is “making progress” on his five priorities – arguing the economy is outperforming expectations and that debt is “on track to be lower and falling”.

More follows on this breaking news story….