UK

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailNow that Rishi Sunak has set a date for the general election, which of the two main parties is leading on the important questions that will help define who wins the keys to Number 10? The economy – Labour The prime minister hailed today’s news that inflation has fallen as a major moment for the economy and proof that his plan is working. But the truth is he and his party have struggled to recover from the economic disaster that was Liz Truss’s mini-Budget. Experts warn millions of households across the country are struggling with huge mortgage bills after the average two-year fixed rate jumped to more than 6 per cent, although it has since fallen somewhat. On top of a cost of living crisis, British households are on course to be worse off at the end of this parliament than they were at the start of the term for the first time in modern history, economists warned last November. Last week the chancellor tried to turn his fire on the opposition, arguing that taxes would go up under a Labour government. But shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves described that claim as “a bit rich”, with the tax burden under the Tories at a 70-year high. The PM will want to talk up good economic news at this election – but the key question will be, do voters feel it? Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer will now battle it out for the keys to No 10 More

Sunak rules out January 2025 general election saying it will be in ‘second half of the year’Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailRumours 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. Show latest update 1716389352Rishi Sunak under threat of no confidence vote, Tory rebels revealTory 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.”Salma Ouaguira22 May 2024 15:491716387676Exclusive: 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.”Salma Ouaguira22 May 2024 15:211716387214Cameron cuts Albania trip shortIf the foreign secretary abandoned all of this, it must only mean he has urgent business to attend in London.Salma Ouaguira22 May 2024 15:131716387075Poll: Labour leads at 23 points ahead of the Tories; Lib Dems and Reform both at 12%Alicja Hagopian22 May 2024 15:111716386998Comment: If Rishi Sunak fails to call an election this afternoon, he could be copying ‘bottler’ Gordon BrownSpeculation is rife in Westminster as we await an unknown announcement from Downing Street at 5pm, writes John Rentoul.Salma Ouaguira22 May 2024 15:091716385993A 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. Salma Ouaguira22 May 2024 14:531716385348Jeremy Hunt pulls out of ITV show appearanceThe Chancellor was due to be interviewed by Robert Peston on Peston. But the ITV presenter has now announced it is no longer happening. Salma Ouaguira22 May 2024 14:421716385245Watch: funny moment Jeremy Hunt’s phone rings during his live TV interview with Martin LewisThe 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.”Jeremy Hunt’s phone rings during live TV interviewSalma Ouaguira22 May 2024 14:401716385125Labour 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”.Salma Ouaguira22 May 2024 14:381716384806General 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?”Salma Ouaguira22 May 2024 14:33 More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster email Some positive economic figures and an atypical silence from government set Britain’s political rumor mill alight Wednesday with speculation that an election may be imminent.Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s office declined to quash the rumors and refused “to rule anything in or out” after reports that the prime minister planned to announce the U.K.’s long awaited election for the summer.Britain must hold a national election by January 2025, and Sunak has repeatedly said it will be in the back end of 2024.He stuck to that line Wednesday, answering a lawmaker’s question about whether there would be a summer vote: “Spoiler alert: There is going to be a general election in the second half of this year.”That could mean any time from July 1. Since British elections are usually held on Thursday, speculation has centered on July 4 as a potential date.Speculation mounted when Sunak called a Cabinet meeting for Wednesday afternoon – rather than the usual Tuesday – and Foreign Secretary David Cameron flew back early from a trip to Albania to attend.British elections must be held at least every five years, but the timing is the prime minister’s choice. If Sunak were to announce one, he’d make a courtesy call on King Charles III, then set a date for the dissolution of Parliament, the formal end of its term. An election would be held 25 working days later.Sunak’s Conservative Party has been in office since 2010, and polls suggest it lags well behind the center-left opposition Labour Party.He is the third Conservative prime minister since the last election in 2019. He took office through party selection in October 2022 after the turbulent terms of Boris Johnson – felled by ethics scandals – and Liz Truss, who caused economic turmoil with unfunded tax cuts.Sunak managed to steady the economy, but without boosting the Conservatives’ popularity with the public.He may take heart from figures released Wednesday showing inflation in the U.K. fell sharply to 2.3%, its lowest level in nearly three years on the back of big declines in domestic bills.The drop in April marks the greatest progress to date on five pledges Sunak made in January 2023, including halving inflation, which had climbed to above 11% at the end of 2022. Sunak hailed the figure as a sign his economic plan was working.Labour said “the country is crying out for a general election so would urge the prime minister to get on with it.” More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailRishi Sunak has refused to rule out a snap general election as his government is buoyed by a positive downturn in the rate of inflation.The prime minister said the fall in inflation, from 3.2 per cent to 2.3, shows there are “brighter days” ahead for the UK. This figure is the closest to the Bank of England’s 2 per cent inflation target since the prime minister took office in late 2022.Speculation is now rife in Westminster that Mr Sunak may call a snap general election soon, bolstered by the positive economic turn.So far, the prime minister has resisted calls to call an election, despite constant pressure from the Labour Party to do so.However, Mr Sunak has previously promised that the country would go to the polls in the second half of this year.It is likely the prime minister has been waiting for the opportune time to call an election, as his party lags behind in the polls. Boosted by economic good fortune, the time may now be soon.Below, The Independent looks at when a general election might be.The prime minister has been urged to call an election date for months More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailWatch live from Downing Street on Wednesday 22 May amid rumours of a possible general election announcement.Rishi Sunak has been urged to “get on with it” and call a vote as he fuelled speculation that he could have his eye on a summer polling day.At Prime Minister’s Questions, the Conservative Party leader refused to rule out a summer election as he repeated his mantra that it will happen in the second half of the year – which could be as early as July.Rumours about an imminent announcement swirled amid some rare welcome news for Mr Sunak, as official figures showed inflation slowed to 2.3 per cent in April, the lowest level since July 2021.The rumour mill was stoked further as it emerged defence secretary Grant Shapps delayed a trip to the Baltic states by a few hours and foreign secretary David Cameron cut short a visit to Albania so they could attend a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday afternoon.Downing Street did nothing to quell the speculation or some claims that Mr Sunak could instead announce a reshuffle of his top team, with questions over chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s political fate.The cabinet meeting is due to take place at around 4pm. More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailChina is providing Russia with lethal aid for use in its war against Ukraine, Grant Shapps has warned.The defence secretary suggested that British and US intelligence contradicts Beijing’s previous attempts to present itself as a moderating influence on Moscow and President Xi’s government is instead helping to arm Russia.Mr Shapps used a speech at the London Defence Conference to reveal China’s collaboration as he argued Nato needs to “wake up” and bolster defence spending alliance-wide.This follows the UK government committing to 2.5 percent of GDP by 2030. However, many Nato allies still do not meet the 2 percent minimum threshold.Mr Shapps said: “Today I can reveal that we have evidence that Russia and China are collaborating on combat equipment for use in Ukraine.”Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said lethal aid is flying from China to Russia (PA) More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster email The parties that agreed to form a Dutch coalition dominated by the far right are struggling to find a prime minister and warned Wednesday that the search might leave the Netherlands without a fully functional government for months. Anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders, who convincingly won the November election, told legislators it might take until after the summer to cobble together a technocrat government. He reiterated that he would not become prime minister as part of the outline coalition deal.The initial candidate for prime minister that Wilders had in mind withdrew early this week following reported allegations of his involvement in medical patent fraud.“It could take one or two months,” or even up to a key parliamentary meeting in September, he said. Wilders has been a divisive figure in Dutch politics for the past two decades and his appointment as prime minister would be seen as a step too far. “No one had predicted this would work,” Wilders said about the coalition. “And I assure you that the government team, including the prime minister, will be presented. We will naturally make that work too.”Wilders was instrumental in building a coalition with outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s center-right People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy, the populist Farmer Citizen Movement and the new centrist New Social Contract party. With plans to enforce the most restrictive asylum policy in the history of the Netherlands, Wilders has pushed a Dutch coalition far to the right and obscured the traditional view of the country as an open, tolerant society. The coalition plan has also raised questions about the next government’s climate commitments that are enshrined in European Union policies. The Farmer Citizen Movement has made sure the deal includes soothing language and concessions to farmers who have choked roads with tractors during disruptive protests.Asylum and climate could quickly set up bruising battles with EU headquarters in Brussels, which oversees how policies are implemented in member states, and dent the nation’s stature as a pillar of the 27-nation bloc, which Rutte had carefully nurtured during his nearly 13 years in power.Rutte remains in office in a caretaker capacity and is seen as a strong candidate to become the next NATO secretary general this year.His party, however, risks being expelled from the liberal Renew bloc in the European Parliament because of its alliance with Wilders. The Renew bloc said it would not accept coalitions with the extreme right. ____Casert reported from Brussels More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailWatch as Rishi Sunak faces Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday 22 May.Mr Sunak has declared UK inflation is “back to normal” in a “major milestone” for the country, as it hit its lowest level in nearly three years despite falling by less than economists were expecting. Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation slowed to 2.3 per cebt in April, down from 3.2 per cent in March, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).It is the lowest level since July 2021 when inflation was recorded at 2 per cent – the Bank of England’s target level.But the decline was smaller than expected as economists had predicted CPI would fall to 2.1 per cent in April, within a whisker of the Bank’s target.Speaking in Downing Street, the prime minister said the fall in inflation is a “major milestone”, but he admitted there is “more work to do”.“That is an important moment for our country, for the economy, and shows that our plan is working,” Mr Sunak said. More