When is the next general election in 2024 taking place?
01.05.2024 - 11:37
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A general election is set to take place this year, but an exact date is yet to be decided.
Current prime minister Rishi Sunak has said he expects an election to take place "in the second half of the year", with most believing that autumn - around October or November - would be the preferred time for a poll. But, that has not stopped speculation that it could be called by the summer, or even as late as next year.
Mr Sunak faces a significant test when Britain heads to the polls for the local elections on May 2, with the results likely to influence his decision on when to call the general election. With Labour still racing ahead in opinion polls, the prime minister could be biding his time for as long as possible to try and win over voters.
READ MORE: Full list of local elections 2024 and mayoral votes taking across UK in May
However, he doesn't have long to decide. Mr Sunak is allowed to call a general election at any point within his five-year term, but if an election has not been called by the fifth anniversary of the current Parliament starting, it will automatically be triggered.
The timetable for a general election is 25 days, starting with the dissolution of Parliament on day 0 and ending with polling day on day 25. However, bank holidays and weekends are not counted. That means the absolute latest date the upcoming general election could possibly be held is January 28.
Here, we take a look at when the general election could take place and the key factors that could decide it.
Some had assumed the prime minister would call an election to coincide with the local elections taking place on May 2, when Brits will elect new councillors, mayors and police and crime commissioners. May 2015 was the last time a