Now a hint from Dowden that poll could even be as late as January
THE next general election could be held as late as January, the Deputy Prime Minister hinted yesterday.
Oliver Dowden said that 2024 was ‘almost certainly an election year’ – opening the possibility that the poll could be held in 2025.
Rishi Sunak has said he intends to call an election in the second half of the year, with October or November seen by many as the most likely months.
The latest date he could possibly delay the poll until is January 28, 2025.
Last month, Mr Sunak confirmed it would not be held alongside the May 2 local elections. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt then hinted a poll was pencilled in for October. Mr
Dowden signalled the possibility of a date early next year as he faced questions on Sky News’s Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips about the Labour Party’s polling lead over the Conservatives.
He said: ‘As we get into an actual election campaign, and this almost certainly is an election year, we move from a kind of referendum on the Government to a choice.
‘I’m confident as people face that choice and they look at the threat of Labour, whether it’s building over the green belt in my constituency, carte blanche to do that, whether it’s in relation to their employment laws which are going to destroy the jobs market or it’s in relation to their sums that don’t add up versus our plan, you will see those numbers narrowing.’
His comments came as the Tories saw another torrid weekend of falling support and dire polls.
National Farmers’ Union president Tom Bradshaw warned the Tories can’t take the rural vote for granted.
‘Historically our members would have been big supporters of the Conservative Party, but many are feeling let down, particularly by the international trade deals [which they believe disadvantage British farmers],’ he told The Sunday Telegraph.
‘They are not going to forget about that quickly.’
But a Tory source hit back, telling the Mail: ‘This Conservative Government backs British farmers.
‘Ministers walked away from trade talks with Canada rather than sign a deal that was not in the interests of UK beef farmers.’ Mr Sunak is also facing yet more downbeat polling, with one suggesting only four in 10 people who voted Tory in 2019 will do so at the next election.
The Opinium survey for The Observer found that just 41 per cent of those who backed the Conservatives under then leader Boris Johnson intend to do so next time.
It also revealed that voters are switching to Reform, which is taking 14 per cent of the Tories’ 2019 support, while Labour is attracting 12 per cent.
The poll found 23 per cent who backed the Tories last
‘Look at the threat of Labour’
‘Voters switching to Reform’
time do not know how they will vote at the next election.
It put Labour’s lead over the Tories at 16 points, with Labour on 41 per cent, the Conservatives on 25 per cent and Reform on 11 per cent.
Sir Keir Starmer has a ten point lead over Mr Sunak when voters are asked who would be the best leader.
A separate poll found dejection within Tory ranks, with two-thirds of Conservative councillors unhappy with the national party.
More than half are dissatisfied with Mr Sunak’s leadership and 47 per cent said the party is too Left-wing, according to the Savanta polling on behalf of Labour Together.