Rishi Sunak has refused to rule out there will be a summer general election during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday.
The Prime Minister said that the general election will happen in the second half of this year, whilst some believe the election could take place on 4 July.
SNP Westminster Leader Stephen Flynn told MPs in the House of Commons, “Speculation is rife, so I think the public deserve a clear answer to a simple question. Does the Prime Minister intend to call a summer general election or is he feart?”
Sunak replied, “There is, Mr Speaker, spoiler alert there is going to be a general election in the second half of this year.
“At that moment, the British people will in fact see the truth about the honourable gentleman opposite me (Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer), because that will be the choice at the next election, Mr Speaker – a party that is not able to say to the country what they would do, a party that would put at risk our hard-earned economic stability, or the Conservatives that are delivering a secure future for our United Kingdom.”
Sunak has called a Cabinet meeting for Wednesday afternoon and the Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has delayed a trip for a NATO meeting.
The Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron has cut his trip to Albania to return for the Cabinet meeting later this afternoon.
Sunak’s press secretary was asked if the Prime Minister will call a snap election in July, she said that he will “not going to rule anything in or out.”
She also said that it is “good inflation news” today which comes after Sunak said on Wednesday that inflation is now “back to normal” which is a “major milestone.”
Sir Keir Starmer has urged the Prime Minister to “get on with it” and set a date for the general election.
A Labour spokesman said, “We are fully ready to go whenever the Prime Minister calls an election.
“We have a fully organised and operational campaign ready to go and we think the country is crying out for a general election so would urge the Prime Minister to get on with it.”
He added, We’ve seen the Prime Minister has repeatedly marched us up this hill and then bottled it at the last minute when it comes to calling an election, but when it comes to it, however long he keeps delaying it, he cannot avoid the verdict of the British public, which recognises that this is a Government that has failed over the last 14 years and believes that it’s time for a change.”
