- By Chas Geiger and Henry Zeffman
- BBC politics
January 4, 2024, 12:33 GMT
Updated 1 hour ago
video caption,
The Prime Minister appears to be ruling out holding a general election in the spring
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says he expects to call a general election “in the second half of this year”.
There has been speculation in recent weeks that he might call such a meeting in May, when local elections are held.
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer accused him of “sitting around Downing Street for months, hesitating and hesitating while the country wants change”.
He said both the country and the Labor Party were ready for an election.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey also described Mr Sunak as a “squatter… holed up in Downing Street, desperately clinging to power rather than face the judgment of the British people”.
The Prime Minister “rigged” a May poll, Sir Ed said.
The early days of this year were already full of speculation about the timing of the election – but Mr Sunak has now put paid to much of that, at least for a few months.
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said Mr Sunak had “shown a bit of cowardice” in “trying to go back to the autumn”.
Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer said voters didn't want the Conservatives to have “another day to screw up the country” but they also didn't feel “inspired by Labor”.
Opposition parties spoke of an election in May so that if he decided to wait until later in the year they could accuse him of being afraid to run.
Mr Sunak and his team have clearly concluded that they do not want to take that risk – and the phrase “working assumption” gives him enough scope to change his mind if circumstances change.
The Prime Minister told broadcasters during a visit to a youth center in Mansfield: “I've got a lot of things I want to get on with.”
He declined to categorically rule out a May election but reiterated his intention to visit the country later in the year.
“I want to move on, manage the economy well and lower people’s taxes.”
“But I also want to continue to fight illegal migration. I am determined to continue to care for the British people,” the Prime Minister said.
“Project Hope”
He acknowledged the last 12 months had been “difficult” but promised a “better year”.
“Look, 2023, I’ll be honest, it hasn’t been the easiest year for any of us, it hasn’t been an easy year for our country.”
The nation is still dealing with the fallout from Covid, the war in Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza, he said.
Mr Sunak raised the prospect of further tax cuts following the easing of National Insurance on January 6, despite the Conservatives raising the overall tax burden to its highest level since the Second World War.
He said: “We want to do more because if we manage the economy responsibly, we can reduce your taxes, give you and your family security, immediate relief from some of your challenges and confidence that the future will be good for you and your children to be better.
Earlier, Sir Keir set out the “Project Hope” for an “oppressed Britain” in a speech in Bristol.
He said the public was right to be “anti-Westminster” after 14 years of Conservative rule, but added his party was offering “a decade of national renewal”.
In a dividing line with conservatives, he signaled that he would wait until the economy is growing before cutting taxes.