Rumours of a snap election are growing in Westminster following the announcement of a possible summer contest.
Foreign secretary David Cameron fueled speculation when he cut his trip to Albania short, and defence secretary Grant Shapps also delayed his flight to attend a Nato meeting in Lithuania.
A Cabinet meeting has senior Conservatives clearing space in their diaries with the urgent meeting expected around 4pm. The prime minister is believed to be addressing the nation at 5pm.
Earlier Rishi Sunak did little to quail speculation of an early election when asked by the SNP Westminster leader during today’s PMQs. The PM said: “There will be a general election in the second half of this year.”
At the Commons, Mr Sunak was keen to highlight the latest announcement that inflation figures have fallen to 2.3 per cent – the lowest in almost three years – but the news has been overshadowed by recent scandals.
Rishi Sunak under threat of no confidence vote, Tory rebels reveal
Tory rebel sources have revealed MPs are writing up letters for a no confidence vote against the prime minister, BBC Newsnight Nicholas Wyatt writes.
Spiraling rumours of an imminent general election announcement seem to have sparked anger among members of the Conservative party.
One source said: “Panic in the tea room. Nobody was expecting this. Everyone is mortified.”
Exclusive: Election madness in Westminster
MPs now believe that Rishi Sunak is on the cusp of calling a general election at 5pm this afternoon.
A civil servant and a minister have separately briefed that an election announcement is “going to happen” as the cabinet gets ready to meet for an emergency session at 4pm.
Both foreign secretary Lord Cameron and defence secretary Grant Shapps have cancelled meetings for the cabinet meeting and it is expected that the prime minister will address the nation at 5pm.
Speculation of a reshuffle instead is being dismissed as unlikely.
One MP said: “Calling the whole cabinet together is not the way to conduct a reshuffle.”
However, Tory MPs are furious about the prospect of an election which will force many of them to cancel planned holidays next week.
One senior backbencher said: “This is utter madness. The Tory party is not ready, MPs are not ready.
“We need a break. This was the last chance for many to have a proper holiday.
“It shows that the PM does not give a s*** about backbenchers.
“I am not sure the party is ready yet to fight this election anyway.”
Cameron cuts Albania trip short
If the foreign secretary abandoned all of this, it must only mean he has urgent business to attend in London.
Poll: Labour leads at 23 points ahead of the Tories; Lib Dems and Reform both at 12%
Comment: If Rishi Sunak fails to call an election this afternoon, he could be copying ‘bottler’ Gordon Brown
Speculation is rife in Westminster as we await an unknown announcement from Downing Street at 5pm, writes John Rentoul.
A General election on Thursday July 4?
With speculations growing, many are wondering what would happen if Rishi Sunak calls an early election to be held on Thursday 4 July.
If that’s the case, the prime minister would have to cancel next week’s recess.
And this means parliament would have to dissolve.
Jeremy Hunt pulls out of ITV show appearance
The Chancellor was due to be interviewed by Robert Peston on Peston.
But the ITV presenter has now announced it is no longer happening.
Watch: funny moment Jeremy Hunt’s phone rings during his live TV interview with Martin Lewis
The chancellor was asked when banks are going to cut interest rates following a fall in inflation when he appeared on Good Morning Britain on Wednesday (22 May).
Responding to the question, he said: “It’s obviously going in the right direction, and that is very encouraging, and when….”
Mr Hunt was then interrupted by the sound of his mobile phone ringing.
Taking the phone out of his pocket, he apologised and said “Excuse me for a moment”.
Mr Lewis joked: “It is the prime minister on the phone.”
Labour on Sunak’s general election announcement: ‘Get on with it’
Sir Keir Starmer is reportedly excited to hear a possible general election date announced later today.
A spokesperson said that the opposition is “ready to go”, saying: “We have a fully organised and operational campaign ready to go, and we think the country is crying out for a general election.”
They added they would “urge the prime minister to get on with it”.
But they cautioned: “We’ve seen the prime minister has repeatedly marched us up this hill and then bottled it at the last minute when it comes to calling an election.
“But when it comes to it, however long he keeps delaying it he cannot avoid the verdict of the British public, which recognises that this is a government that has failed over the last 14 years and believes that it’s time for a change.”
They added they “look forward to having the opportunity to put our case to the public”.
General Election: Whitehall sources say Tories have no reason to wait
One insider has suggested that calling a summer election makes sense for the Conservative government, The Telegraph reports.
They said: “I’ve always thought a summer election was likely: we’ve just had the infected blood announcement, the Horizon compensation announcement and the defence uplift.
“That doesn’t leave a lot of money left for other priorities – so why wait?”
