The meetings will be an opportunity for Labor to discuss its agenda for government and build relationships with potential future colleagues. Photo: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
George Osborne predicted the date of this year's general election as Rishi Sunak gave Sir Keir Starmer, the Labor leader, permission to begin formal talks on access to the civil service.
Former Chancellor said he believed the election would take place on November 14. Mr Osborne, an ally of the Prime Minister, said voters should “save the date” after being told it was included in No 10's plans for this year.< /p>
It comes after Mr Sunak approved meetings between Labor and civil servants, which give the party a chance to discuss its agenda in government and build relationships with potential future colleagues in Whitehall. Simon Case, Cabinet Secretary, will oversee and organize them.
The access talks, taking place ahead of the general election, are the only chance for the opposition and the civil service to exchange information before a potential post-election transfer date.
Opposition leaders must write to the Prime Minister requesting a meeting to begin the process. Under the agreement, the Prime Minister is expected to respond by authorizing negotiations.
A Cabinet Office spokesman said: “In accordance with the long-standing process set out in the Cabinet Office guidance, the Prime Minister has authorized access negotiations between the Official Opposition and the Government service. The Cabinet Secretary will oversee and organize these discussions.”
A Labor source confirmed the party received the letter on Thursday evening and will respond “in due course.”
Mr Sunak has previously indicated that the next election, due by January 2025, will take place in the autumn.
< p>In the latest episode of his Political Currency podcast, which he co-hosts with Ed Balls, his former Labor Party shadow, Mr Osborne said: “We know it's going to be a general election year…November 14, except for the date.”
“A little bird told me that the various work programs needed to prepare for the general elections include this date. I'm pretty sure this is the date Downing Street has now chosen.
“That doesn’t mean they won’t be put off by it, of course.”
George Osborne made the prediction on the Political Currency podcast he co-hosts with Ed Balls, his former Labor Party shadow
Mr Osborne added that “logic gets you there” after opinion polls show the Conservatives continue to trail Labor by around 20 percentage points.
“He's not going to hold a spring election, so you're left with the autumn. And you're probably thinking, 'I know we'll have a party conference as a sort of launching pad'… So November 14 kind of writes itself,” he said.
Speaking at Vo During a trip to Nottinghamshire last week, Mr Sunak said his “working assumption” was that he would initiate a vote for “the second half of this year”.
Last week, Sir John Curtis widely Known as Britain's pre-eminent politician, the Election Expert also suggested the election would take place on Mr Osborne's predicted date, adding: “The Prime Minister will wrap up the Conservative conference on October 2 – that could be the starting point.”
Recent Comments