Prime Minister Rishi Sunak rules out May 2 general election
14.03.2024 - 20:15
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, has ruled out holding a general election in May on the same day as the local elections.
Voters will go to the polls in local elections in Greater Manchester and across the UK on May 2, together with elections for mayors.
The next UK general election must be held no later than January 28, 2025, but could take place earlier, with some political commentators suggesting an election in the winter will be held.
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Mr Sunak himself has previously said he believes a general election will be held in 'the second half of the year'.
Prime Ministers themselves choose the date of an election, with Mr Sunak not elaborating any further.
But he said tonight, according to ITV political editor Robert Peston, that a general election won't be held on May 2 when the local elections are.
Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Peston said: "Rishi Sunak has just formally ruled out holding a general election on 2 May, the date of local elections. This is what he told ITV West: "In several weeks on May 2 we have elections on local issues, police and crime commissioners, mayors. There wont be a general election ON THAT DAY."
"Curious choice of words but definitive."
In the interview with ITV News West Country, Mr Sunak said: “In several weeks’ time we’ve got elections for police and crime commissioners, for local councils, for mayors across the country – they’re important elections.”
Asked whether there would be a general election on the same day, he said: “There won’t be an election on that day.”
The statement will put paid to mounting speculation in Westminster that the Prime Minister was preparing to