In an interview with BBC Radio Tees, Rishi Sunak refused to specify the timing of the election. Photo: Ian Forsyth/PA < p>Rishi Sunak laughed off demands for a date for the general election, insisting the announcement would be made “formally and officially”.
The Prime Minister refused to specify a time frame for the contest, ruling out vote to coincide with local elections on May 2.
He previously said his “working assumption” was for the vote to take place in the second half of this year, with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt hinting it could take place in October.
Questioned In an interview with BBC Radio Tees on Tuesday, when the election takes place, Mr Sunak laughed and said: “Well, I've answered that question many times over the last few weeks.”
He was asked if maybe whether he can do it. After giving listeners the voting date, he laughed again, saying, “No, unfortunately, no.”
Having caught his reaction, the interviewer asked, “Why is that funny, sorry? Why are you laughing at this?
Mr Sunak replied: “Because there is a way to call a general election and it will be done in a formal and official way. I think the most important thing is the choice in these elections.”
The Liberal Democrats said the Prime Minister's hilarious response exposed the “careless, callous and chaotic” nature of the Tory party. and called on him to give voters “the chance to kick out the Conservatives” now.
Helen Morgan, Lib Dem local government spokesman, said: “Rishi Sunak laughing in the face of people demanding change is a perfect example of how careless, heartless and chaotic this Conservative Party is.”
“As long as Sunak holds on, it's obvious that people all over the country are demanding that he and this rabble stop hiding in their offices. We need a general election now. People want to be able to remove the Conservatives from power, and they know they can do this by electing Liberal Democrat MPs.”
Last month, Mr. Hunt appeared to suggest the election would be held in the fall, as he had set. the government's approach to the next Whitehall spending review.
Discussing the timing of the process, he said it would be “very, very difficult” to complete it before the April 2025 deadline “if there is a general election in October”.
Mr Sunak spoke to Radio Tees on a local broadcast in the north east where he promoted the Government's expansion of free childcare by visiting a nursery in Hartlepool.
He said he hopes for change. will contribute to the general feeling that “things are getting better” by claiming that the UK has “turned the corner”.
Rishi Sunak was in the north-east promoting the expansion of the free childcare scheme, visiting a nursery in Hartlepool. Photo: Paul Ellis/AFP
The Prime Minister also accused Sir Keir Starmer of taking voters “for granted”, saying Labor has “no plan”.
He told BBC Radio Newcastle: “After a difficult few years, the plans we have implemented, we are working, and if we stick to this plan, then I can guarantee that people will have peace of mind, that they and their families will have a bright future, and we can all regain a sense of pride in our country. .
“The alternative in this election is obviously the Labor Party and they can't tell you what they would do differently because Keir Starmer doesn't have a plan.”
“And I don't think so. enough to take people for granted. Of course people want change, but we are delivering it, and change can't happen unless you have a plan.”
Meanwhile, Lord Hague, the former Tory leader and an ally of Mr Sunak, advised Tory MPs to focus on making the next general election “competitive” rather than plotting to replace the Prime Minister.
It comes amid rumors of a shake-up at the top of the party, with The Times reporting that the Popular Conservatism group has launched a plan to install a Liz Truss-style candidate as leader if the Tories lose. election and Mr Sunak is leaving.
Sources told the newspaper that Dame Priti Patel, the former home secretary, was the favorite to support the right-wing faction.
But Lord Hague told Times Radio: “The next general election hasn't happened, we don't know the result and we certainly don't know who will be in Parliament on the Conservative side, so they should all be focused on getting a competitive election.” and then talk about a leadership election if it happens after that rather than now.”
Speaking to Times Radio, Gillian Keegan, the education secretary, insisted the Conservative Party is “one family.” and focused on “just getting on with the job.”
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