A top political expert has pinpointed a major clue given away by Rishi Sunak which reveals what may be the exact date of the next general election. The Prime Minister revealed on Thursday that it is his “working assumption” he would trigger the vote for the “second half of this year”.
Sir John Curtice, Professor of Politics at Strathclyde University, said he believes the PM could fire the “starting gun” for the election in his speech to close the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham on October 2.
He told the BBC: “Now, there is beginning to be a consensus [the general election] might be November 14. All the parties have decided to hold their party conferences rather early next autumn.
“The Prime Minister will end the Conservative conference on October 2 – that might be the starting gun.”
Sir John’s date ties with a Sunday Times report that the Conservatives’ election strategist Isaac Levido has pencilled in the same date, which is nine days after Americans vote in the US presidentital election.
Sir John said Mr Sunak appeared to have decided to notch up two years in No.10 rather than risk serving only 18 months by calling an election in May.
On a visit to Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, Mr Sunak told broadcasters on Thursday: “So my working assumption is we’ll have a general election in the second half of this year and, in the meantime, I’ve got lots that I want to get on with.”
The Tory leader declined to rule out a May election categorically, instead repeating his intention to go for later in the year.
Mr Sunak has until January 28, 2025, to hold the election. Waiting gives him more time to turn around the Tories’ polling.
Opposition party leaders have tried to make it appear as if the Prime Minister is “running scared”, with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer saying he wants the polls to open as soon as possible.
In an interview with Sky News, Sir Keir said: “We are ready for an election. I think the country is ready for election. People are crying out for change.”
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, who is under pressure over his role on the Post Office Horizon scandal, accused the PM of “bottling it”.
Mr Sunak set out his expectations for a later election after Labour started claiming a spring vote is the “worst kept secret in Parliament” in a ploy to prepare the way for allegations the PM is “squatting” in Downing Street.
The Prime Minister, speaking in Mansfield, said he would “keep cutting people’s taxes”. He said: “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, immediate relief from some of the challenges you’re facing and confidence that the future is going to be better for you and your children.
“That is going to be the single biggest difference between us and the Labour Party in the next election.” The Prime Minister claimed Labour’s £28 billion-a-year green energy investment plans cannot be done “without putting up inflation, without putting up mortgage rates or without putting up all your taxes”.
He said: “We are going to keep talking about it because ultimately it’s going to impact everyone in this country and we’re going to cut their taxes and make sure everyone knows that if they ever get a lefty, your taxes are going up.”
