Sunak refuses to rule out early May election

Speculation grows that Prime Minister will call for a spring vote as tax cuts hit and spirits are buoyed

RISHI SUNAK has refused to rule out a May general election, prompting renewed speculation about when he is planning to trigger the vote.

The unveiling of new tax cuts, in the form of a 2p reduction in workers’ National Insurance, has contributed to debate about whether No10 could be planning an early election. Mr Sunak said “I’m not going to say anything extra about that” when pressed in one interview, though in another he blamed Labour for talking up an early election.

The decision to not categorically rule out the possibility of a spring rather than autumn election – a position adopted all year – means the speculation could well run for weeks. However, many Tory MPS and government insiders expect that autumn will ultimately be selected, which is an assumption widely shared in Westminster.

The centrality of an improving economy in the Tories’ election hopes is the most commonly noted argument for why waiting until later in the year makes political sense for Mr Sunak. Inflation is forecast to fall below the 2 per cent Bank target within months.

The time also allows for new tax cuts to have an impact, and economic growth is set to pick up a little.

Some prominent Tory voices have floated an early election by arguing the Conservatives’ political prospects could worsen throughout the year.

In 2017, Theresa May repeatedly rejected claims she could hold a snap election, only to shock Westminster by calling one for that June, a reminder of how closely such plans are kept.

The decision about when to call the election rests with the Prime Minister. It must be held by January 2025 at the latest, but Mr Sunak can pick the date before then. At the start of the year, Mr Sunak said that he was expecting the vote in the second half of the year. He has stuck to the position for months.

Asked by Jeremy Vine on BBC Radio 2 whether there would be an election in May, the Prime Minister laughed and said: “I’m not going to say anything extra about that. What I would say is what matters is the choice at that election, and the choice, especially after this Budget, is clear.

“Our plans are working. Of course there’s more work to do, we are starting to deliver the change that people want to see and if we stick with that plan people can have the peace of mind that there is a brighter future for them and their families.”

He later hardened his language after the failure to rule out a May election made headlines. Mr Sunak told BBC Radio Leeds: “I was very clear about this at the beginning of the year about my working assumption for the election being in the second half of the year. Nothing’s changed since then.

“But again, there’s a lot of focus on this from the Labour Party more than anything else to distract from the fact that actually they don’t want to talk about the substance.”

The second set of remarks, however, did not amount to ruling out a May election.