Rishi Sunak has set out his plan for the 2024 general election, revealing that he expects to hold it in the “second half of the year” despite intense pressure to call a vote soon.
The PM said on Thursday that it was his “working assumption” that he would not send the public to the polls in the spring, as the opposition has been talking up in recent weeks.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer immediately accused Mr Sunak of “squatting” at Downing Street and “dithering and delaying” on facing the electorate.
The Liberal Democrats – who have also been calling for a May election – joined Labour in accusing the PM of “bottling” a spring poll.
Claiming the Tory leader was “running scared”, leader Sir Ed Davey said “squatter Sunak” was “holed up in Downing Street, desperately clinging on to power”.
Speaking on a visit to a youth centre in Nottinghamshire, Mr Sunak told broadcasters: “So my working assumption is we’ll have a general election in the second half of this year.”
The Conservative leader declined to rule out a May election categorically – but repeated his intentions to go for later in the year. “In the meantime I’ve got lots that I want to get on with.”
Despite speculation of an autumn poll, Mr Sunak appears keen to wait as long in the year as possible. Isaac Levido – the Tory party’s campaign manager – is said to have pencilled in 14 November to hold the election.
The Labour leader responded to the PM’s comments by taunting him to agree to an election within months. “If he is not being clear, and I don’t think he is setting a date, what is he hiding?”
Sir Keir told Sky News: “I would like to see an election as soon as possible. I think the vast majority of the public want to see an election as soon as possible, and the reason is that the choice now is to turn our back on 14 years of decline and usher in a decade of national renewal with hope and change.”
“People can’t afford for the PM to be squatting for months on end this year,” the Labour leader added.
Speaking to reporters at the end of a speech in Bristol, the Labour leader also said it was “nonsense” to suggest he wanted to duck TV debates with Mr Sunak – saying: “Bring it on”.
Mr Starmer insisted he was happy to exchange views with Mr Sunak at any time, following reports that Labour aides would prefer he avoid televised clashes. “I’ve been saying bring it on for a very, very long time – I’m happy to debate any time.”
Meanwhile, Mr Sunak dangled the prospect of future tax cuts while speaking to a group of voters in Mansfield. The PM promised further cuts ahead – as he pointed to the easing of national insurance from 12 per cent to 10 per cent.
“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 … and confidence that the future is going to be better for you and your children,” he said. “That is the journey that we’re on.”
The Tory leader appeared to concede that making progress in 2023 had been challenging, but promised a “better year” ahead. “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.”
He added: “I know that 2024 is going to be a better year, I want to make sure that all you believe 2024 is going to be a better year too.”
The PM claimed that he was confident of improvements because he was now “making progress” on his five priorities – arguing the economy is outperforming expectations and that debt is “on track to be lower and falling”.
Mr Sunak also called on junior doctors to end their strike, as experts warn that it puts his promise to cut waiting lists at risk.
The PM backed NHS leaders after a number of hospitals pleaded for junior doctors to leave picket lines and return to work amid patient safety fears – also known as derogation requests.
“These strikes are disrupting people’s lives,” the Tory leader said. “They are causing an enormous amount of concern to people.”
He added: “It’s absolutely right that NHS leaders, completely independent of government, are making clinical decisions on the ground. And requesting that extra support where they feel that they need it. Of course they have my backing in doing that.”
Sir Keir pledged in his Bristol speech to bring hope to an “exhausted” Britain in 2024, as he accused the “miserable” Tories of “pointless populist” gimmicks.
He said a Labour government would want to cut taxes – but insisted that reversing flagging growth would be the first priority if he takes power at the next general election.
Mr Starmer also conceded his planned £28bn-a-year green energy investment could shrink depending on economic conditions – saying it would be subject to strict fiscal rules.
“The first lever that we want to pull, the first place we will go, is growth in our economy because that’s what’s been missing for 14 years,” said the Labour boss. “Any tax cuts have to be fair and affordable, and we have to be realistic about that. But I think the place to go is to growth on this.”
