Rishi Sunak proposes holding a general election in the second half of the year

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was working on the assumption that he would hold a general election “in the second half of this year”.

In recent weeks, there has been speculation that he might call for this in May, when local elections are held.

Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer accused him of “sitting in Downing Street for months on end, dithering and delaying while the country wants change.”

He said that the country and the Labor Party are ready to hold elections.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey also described Mr Sunak as a “squatter… holed up in Downing Street, clinging desperately to power rather than stand up to the judgment of the British people”.

Sir Ed said the Prime Minister had “packaged” the opinion poll conducted in May.

The early days of this year were already full of speculation about the timing of the election, but Sunak has now quashed much of that speculation, for a few months at least.

Scottish National Party leader Stephen Flynn said Sunak had “showed a bit of cowardice” by “trying to return to the autumn”.

Carla Denyer, co-leader of the Green Party, said voters did not want the Conservatives to get “an extra day to spoil the country”, but they “don’t feel inspired by Labour either”.

Opposition parties have been talking about the possibility of holding elections in May, so if the Prime Minister decides to wait until later in the year, they may accuse him of being afraid.

Mr Sunak and his team have clearly decided that this is not a risk they want to take – and the phrase “working assumption” gives him enough leeway to change his mind if circumstances change.

“I have a lot that I want to deal with,” the Prime Minister told broadcasters during a visit to a youth center in Mansfield.

He refused to definitively rule out holding elections in May, but reiterated his intention to go to the country later in the year.

“I want to continue, manage the economy well and cut taxes for people.

“But I also want to continue tackling illegal immigration. I am determined to continue providing services to the British people,” the Prime Minister said.

He admitted the past 12 months had been “difficult”, but promised a “better year” ahead.

“Look, 2023, I'll be honest, has not been the easiest years for any of us, and it has not been an easy year for our country.”

He said the nation is still dealing with the legacy of Covid, the war in Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza.