Rishi Sunak rules out May election as he finally outlines his ‘working assumption’

Rishi Sunak has ruled out holding a general election in the spring.

Responding to a question about when it would take place, Sunak replied: “My working assumption is we’ll have a general election in the second half of this year.”

There had been speculation that the upcoming general election would be held in May.

When pressed if he could rule out a May election, he repeated it is his “working assumption” that the General Election will be held in the second half of the year.

“I want to keep going, managing the economy well and cutting people’s taxes. But I also want to keep tackling illegal migration,” he said addressing broadcasters on a visit to a youth centre in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.

“So, I’ve got lots to get on with and I’m determined to keep delivering for the British people.”

A general election has to be held by January 2025.

Sunak had previously ruled out an election for this date.

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Labour has claimed that a spring vote is the “worst kept secret in Parliament”, whilst the Liberal Democrats have also been calling for the PM to hold the vote earlier in the year, rather than trying to “cling on” to power.

Responding to PM appearing to rule out a May General Election, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: “Rishi Sunak has bottled it and is running scared of a May General Election.

“Squatter Sunak is holed up in Downing Street, desperately clinging on to power rather than facing the verdict of the British people.

“We need an election in spring, so that voters can finally get rid of this appalling and out-of-touch Conservative Government.”

Sunak admitted that the last year had been challenging, but promised a “better year” in 2024.

He said: “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.”

The long election campaigns from both the Conservatives and Labour are under way, as both parties visited bellwether seats.

Labour leader Keir Starmer pleaded with voters to hang on to the “flickering hope in your heart that things can be better” amid the “understandable despair of a downtrodden country”.