Chancellor may have let slip the general election date

The Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has hinted that the general election could be held this October.

On Tuesday afternoon Hunt told the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee of the possibility that in October he will set out the government’s next Whitehall spending review.

Last week the Chancellor pushed away speculation he was going to “go early” as he ruled out a 2 May election.

When asked about the government’s spending review, the Chancellor said on Tuesday, “No governments decide a spending review this far ahead of when that spending review is happening.

“This particular spending review has to be complete before next April when the next financial year starts.

“And of course if the general election is in October that will mean it is very, very tight and that is why we are thinking in advance about the most important element of that spending review which is the productivity element…”

Traditionally November is when the autumn budget takes place the day before the clocks go back.

The Chancellor suggested voters will be facing a 1979 type, when Margret Thatcher came into power, of economic decision by choosing Labour’s pledges and the Conservatives growth measures.