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Rishi Sunak is keeping the door open to a July general election, having again refused to rule out going to the country this summer.
Amid speculation that a disastrous set of local elections results for the Tories could force his hand, the prime minister would not “say anything more than I’ve already said” on the date of the next election.
But, after the shock defection of former health minister Dr Dan Poulter, the PM is under increasing pressure to set out when the country will go to the polls.
He has previously said it will take place in the second half of 2024.
And Tory MPs have drafted a 100-day plan to save the Conservative Party which would see Mr Sunak ousted and replaced by House of Commons leader Penny Mordaunt.
The group of Conservative rebels believe the party faces an “extinction-level” event and a source said Mr Poulter’s defection and a disastrous set of local elections will convince MPs to submit letters of no confidence in the PM.
One Tory rebel told the Sunday Telegraph: “The reality is that we are facing an extinction-level event. It’s for colleagues to decide if they want to go down with the ship.”
The general election is expected to be held in October or November, although there is mounting speculation a contest could come as early as July.
Grant Shapps has warned agitating Tory MPs against ousting Mr Sunak and said the prime minister should be left to “get on with the job”.
The defence secretary said Mr Sunak should be “given the space” to do his job. “He’s doing a great job – he’s doing it under difficult circumstances,” said Mr Shapps.
But a drubbing in mayoral and council elections on May 2 could either lead to a challenge to his leadership or persuade him that an earlier polling day could be a better solution than limping on with a divided party.
The defection of a Conservative ex-health minister to Labour could further spook already restive Tory MPs and increases the pressure on the Prime Minister.
Mr Poulter on Saturday announced he was quitting the Tory Party, which he accused of no longer prioritising the overstretched NHS.
Mr Sunak was asked on Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, recorded before Dr Poulter’s shock defection, whether the latter half of 2024 could mean July.
The Prime Minister said: “I’m not going to say anything more than I’ve already said, I’ve been very clear about that.”
Pressed repeatedly whether he was ruling out July, he said: “I’m not going to do that.
“You’re going to try and draw whatever conclusion you want from what I say. I’m going to always try and say the same thing. You should just listen to what I said, same thing I’ve said all year.”
When presenter Sir Trevor said he wanted to know when to book his summer holidays, the Prime Minister replied: “Actually, Trevor, it’s more important than your holiday or anyone’s holiday. I’ve got a job to do which is delivering for the country.
“And as we’ve been talking about, we are delivering when it comes to tackling illegal migration. We’re delivering when it comes to investing in our defence.”
The full interview will air on Sky News on Sunday morning.
In less than a week, the Tories are expected to lose about half of their council seats up for election, while their two most high-profile regional mayors face difficult contests.
Some analysts believe defeat for West Midlands Mayor Andy Street and Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen could lead to the Prime Minister facing a no-confidence vote, with 52 Tory MPs needed to trigger one.
There were rumours swirling in Westminster on Friday that Mr Sunak could fire the starting gun on an election campaign as soon as Monday in a bid to thwart a possible challenge from restive MPs, though Downing Street brushed them off.
The latest possible date he could hold the election is January 28 2025.
Mr Sunak sought to bolster his premiership this week with a flurry of announcements, including the passing of Rwanda asylum legislation and a pledge to spend 2.5% of gross domestic product on defence by 2030.
A BMG survey for the i paper suggested that voters who backed the Conservatives in 2019, but have since deserted the party, would be more likely to vote Tory under a different leader.
Mr Sunak has repeatedly refused to clarify when the general election will be, promising only to hold it in the second half of 2024. The latest possible date for an election is 28 January 2025, meaning the PM could delay the vote for a further eight months.
He was already been accused of being a “chicken” and “squatting in Downing Street” after ruling out holding the election on 2 May, when voters will go to the polls for local elections across the country.
The growing speculation comes as the Conservatives sit 21 points behind in the opinion polls. A series of polls have shown the party is heading for electoral oblivion, with even Mr Sunak at risk of losing his seat.
