BATTLE PLAN
Rishi Sunak all-but rules out May general election as PM and Starmer hit campaign trail for first time with rival trips
It follows fevered speculation the PM would go to the country in the spring - and paves the way for an autumn ballot
RISHI Sunak fired the starting gun on an autumn General Election yesterday - saying he has “lots to get on with” first.
The PM shut down growing speculation of a May ballot by announcing his “working assumption” of going to the polls in the “second half of the year”.
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His surprise remarks on a campaign visit wrongfooted his rival Sir Keir Starmer who had just wrapped up his New Year speech.
As the race for No10 intensified, the Labour leader shot back that Mr Sunak was “squatting in Downing Street” and challenged him to set a firm date.
On a visit to the Red Wall in Mansfield, the PM said: “My working assumption is we’ll have an election in the second half of this year because, in the meantime, I’ve got lots I want to get on with.”
He spoke out exactly one year on from making his five pledges to the country, for which he claimed to have secured “progress”.
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The Tory leader said: “We want to keep managing the economy well and cutting people’s taxes. And we want to keep tackling illegal migration.”
He pointed to the “big tax cut” this Saturday when National Insurance is slashed by 2p for millions, and his mission to get the Rwanda plan “up and running”.
Mr Sunak added: “I’ve got plenty to be getting on with and that’s what I’m focused on”.
Speaking to voters, he did admit that 2023 “wasn’t the easiest year for our country” and cited the wars in Ukraine and Gaza as well as economic hardship.
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But the optimistic PM declared: “I know that 2024 is going to be a better year.”
His move to all-but rule out a spring election seeks to neutralise likely future Labour attacks that Mr Sunak had bottled it calling one.
Former Labour PM Gordon Brown was crucified in 2007 when he allowed election fever to take off before eventually chickening out.
By sitting tight, Mr Sunak also has more time to close the 18-point poll gap with Sir Keir and let the twin cost of living and small boats crises ease.
But by stopping short of categorically ruling out an early election he has left himself wriggle room to call one if needed.
Pollster Lord Hayward said a Tory fightback could well be on the cards and warned people against writing them off.
He said: “Changes have taken place very rapidly in previous elections and there’s every reason because of inflation, interest rates and the like, there is that possibility, and it’s the sensible decision for the Prime Minister to make.”
Mr Sunak had already confirmed an election will be held this year, after ruling out the latest possible date of January 2025.
The fallout from the PM’s comments overshadowed Sir Keir’s New Year plea for Brits to vote Labour to end “14 years of Tory decline”.
The PM wannabe said: “We are ready for an election. I think the country is ready for an election, people are crying out for change.
“And I say to the Prime Minister, what is he hiding? If he is not going to set a date, what is he hiding from the public?”
Meanwhile Mr Sunak begged wavering Tory voters against switching to Richard Tice’s right-wing Reform Party, saying it would be a gift to Labour.
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He said: “There's only going to be two options for Prime Minister after the next election, it's either going to be me or Keir Starmer.
"A vote for anyone who is not a Conservative is a vote for Keir Starmer in power.”
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