U.K News
Briton’s Sunak Hints of July 2024 Election
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has not ruled out holding a general election in July, despite widespread uncertainty about the scheduling of the national poll. Sunak has often stated that his “working assumption” is that the election will take place in the second half of this year.
While many observers have projected an autumn referendum, Sky News’ Trevor Phillips suggested to Mr Sunak that it may be as early as July.
“Well, look, when it comes to a general election, I’ve been very clear about that multiple times,” the prime minister was quoted as saying.
Trevor Phillips pressed Mr Sunak five times during his interview, which will air in full on Sunday at 8.30am, on whether he would rule out a general election in July, but the Conservative leader refused to confirm or deny whether it may take place at that time.
“You’re going to try and draw whatever conclusion you want from what I say,” he told the audience. “I will always strive to say the same thing. You should just listen to what I said, which has been the same for the past year.
But the point is, there is an option in the general election. And look, over the last week or so… the country has a very clear idea of what that change will look like.”
Mr Sunak outlined his recent commitments to overhauling the welfare system, cutting taxes, and increasing defense spending, as well as finally getting his Rwanda bill through parliament to address small boat crossings, saying: “That is the substance of what this government is about and what it will do in the future.
“And when the election comes, there will be a clear choice, because the Labour Party has attempted to stymie our Rwanda law, because they do not believe in stopping the boats, and their economic strategy would raise people’s taxes.
“They haven’t said that they will invest more in our defence and they certainly don’t agree with reforming our welfare system to support people into work.”
Labour has stated that it intends to equal the increase in defence spending when budgetary conditions allow, and has committed to repeal the Rwanda bill if elected.
This week, the party’s pre-election focus has been on railways, threatening to renationalize train operators and “sweep away” the current “broken” model if it wins the election.
