UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has ruled out holding a general election on May 2, when local elections are already taking place.
The prime minister previously refused to provide definitive statements about the general election date, saying his working assumption was that it would occur in the second half of the year.
UK General Election
ITV News West Country asked the prime minister whether he planned to hold a quick election on the same day as the local elections, and he responded, "There won't be a general election on that day."
In Westminster, there had been wild speculation that Sunak was getting ready to call for a general election on May 2 and dissolve the legislature before the end of March.
Even while Sunak stated in January that his "working assumption" was that there would be an election in the second half of the year, he has repeatedly refused to rule out the possibility before this week.
On Thursday, he said that in several weeks, they have elections for police and crime commissioners, local councils, and mayors across the country.
He did not completely rule out holding an early spring election. The Labour Party has raised the possibility of holding a spring snap election. The shadow paymaster general, Jonathan Ashworth, made a $12 bet live on Sky News that the election would take place in May.
According to some Labour and Conservative politicians, an early election would mostly avoid the repercussions from a potentially painful series of local elections and a challenging summer in which minor boat crossings across the Channel might further damage the Tories' record on immigration.
Labour Leader Calls to Break Habit of Delaying Election
Isaac Levido, who is running the Conservatives' election campaign, wants it to focus on the government's delivery record. Tory strategists hope the economy will improve, and Sunak will have more to show from his time in No10 by delaying until later in the year.
Pat McFadden MP, Labour's national campaign coordinator, said that the British public could expect an election to be called by March 26 and held on May 2 after 14 years of Tory failure.
"Until the day to call it has passed, we are prepared for the election to occur on the usual day in the election cycle. Rishi Sunak should stop squatting in Downing Street and give the country what it desperately needs - a chance for change with a Labour government."
January 2025 is the latest that Sunak might hold the election. Insiders believe Labour is talking about the possibility of an early election so they can call Sunak a coward if he chooses not to have one.
In response to the budget, the Labour leader claimed that it is time to break the habit of 14 years. The leader noted stopping the dithering, delay, and uncertainty and confirming May 2 as the next general election date as Britain deserves better and Labour is ready.
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