Rishi Sunak makes major general election announcement

Rishi Sunak has repeated his insistence that the general election will take place in the second half of the year amid mounting speculation he could have his eye on a summer polling day. During Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, he was challenged over the date of the vote by SNP Westminster Leader Stephen Flynn, who asked Mr Sunak whether he intends to call a summer election.

Mr Flynn said: “Speculation is rife, so I think the public deserves a clear answer to a simple question. Does the Prime Minister intend to call a summer general election or is he feart?”

Mr 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, 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.”

The rumour mill at Westminster has been thrown into overdrive amid some rare welcome news for the Prime Minister, as official figures showed inflation slowed to 2.3% in April, the lowest level since July 2021.

It follows a difficult period for the Conservatives, who have suffered two defections by backbench MPs and a drubbing at the local elections earlier this month. Polls continue to suggest the Tories are on course to lose the coming national vote, with Labour retaining a double-digit lead.