Snap election idea’s ridiculous, says PM
HOLDING a snap general election would be “totally, totally” ridiculous, Boris Johnson has said.
The Prime Minister had previously refused to rule out calling an early poll to renew his mandate with voters.
But asked in an interview with LBC radio, aired yesterday, whether the idea of an early election is ridiculous, Mr Johnson replied: “Totally, totally.”
He refused to comment further, saying only: “My job is to talk about the Government’s agenda, to talk about policy, to talk about the UK, to talk about how we’re fixing the costof-living problems, the cost-of-living crisis, talk about everything we’re doing to strengthen the UK economy, our plan for a stronger economy, which is what I believe in.
“Talk about levelling-up, the agenda for taking this country forward.
“That’s what I want. That’s what I’m actually meant to talk about.”
Pressure
He declined to say whether he has two years or two months left as Prime Minister, saying: “I’m going to deliver on our programme.”
Speaking to reporters at the Nato summit in Madrid on Thursday, Mr Johnson repeatedly failed to rule out the prospect of going to the country before the next scheduled election in 2024.
He has claimed he has a new mandate at Westminster following his victory in the recent confidence vote, despite 41 per cent of his MPs deciding he should go. He was asked whether he will now also seek a fresh mandate from the country. “The idea hadn’t occurred to me,” he said.
His comments come as The Times reported that staff at Conservative Party headquarters had “war-gamed” the idea of calling a snap election if Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is forced to resign as a result of Durham Police’s investigation into his alleged breaches of coronavirus rules.
Mr Johnson is under fresh pressure over sexual misconduct allegations in his party after former Tory deputy chief whip Chris Pincher dramatically quit the role after a drunken incident. The Prime Minister is facing calls to remove Mr Pincher from the party, which could trigger a by-election in the MP’s Tamworth seat.
Away from the turmoil, the PM met New Zealand counterpart Jacinda Ardern at Downing Street yesterday to discuss trade deals. He also watched a Maori dance in the No.10 garden.