A Conservative government minister seems to have dismissed the possibility of a general election in May 2024, hinting instead at a potential voting opportunity in the autumn.
With the Conservative Party trailing behind Labour in recent polls by a margin of 20 points, Trade Minister Greg Hands suggested that the electoral showdown will likely occur “later this year.”
Hands firmly ruled out such a scenario by addressing the growing speculation that the Prime Minister might opt for a snap election in May, coinciding with local elections nationwide.
When questioned about the likelihood of a May general election, Hands responded with an emphatic “No.”
Meanwhile, Labour’s shadow paymaster general made a bet with Kay Burley that the contest would be in May.
Jonathan Ashworth asserted that after 14 years of Conservative rule, the British public is poised for change and likely to oust the Tories.
In anticipation of an impending election in May, Ashworth confidently stated, “I think it is definitely coming in May… the Conservatives are planning for that.”
During this declaration, Ashworth engaged in a symbolic £10 bet for a charity supporting children of alcoholics and challenged Rishi Sunak to disclose the specific election date.
Despite Sunak’s previous mention of a “working assumption” to call the election in the latter half of the year, he refrained from specifying a date.
The possibility of a May election gained traction, fueled by expectations of tax cuts in the upcoming budget announcement and the potential initiation of deportation flights to Rwanda within weeks.
Downing Street affirmed its commitment to initiating flights by spring, a move that, when coupled with potential tax incentives, could provide a significant boost to the Conservative Party’s election campaign.
Concerns are mounting over Rishi Sunak’s anticipated challenging results in the upcoming May local elections, which could potentially destabilize his leadership position.
Some speculations suggest that the government might opt for a May election to mitigate potential damage to the Conservative Party, especially given the absence of evidence indicating a forthcoming reversal in their poll standings.
A Bleak Outlook For The Conservative Party
A recent surprising survey unveiled alarming prospects for the Conservative Party, indicating one of the worst potential electoral defeats in its history. The survey highlighted a sharp decline in support, with just a fifth of British voters currently backing Mr. Sunak’s party—the lowest level since 1978.
The Conservative Party found itself trailing Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party by a significant margin of 27 points, a situation that could lead to electoral disaster for Rishi Sunak’s party if mirrored in a general election.
According to a recent Ipsos poll released on Monday, February 19, Sunak’s party might retain as few as 25 seats—a staggering 351 fewer than Boris Johnson’s 2019 victory, potentially marking a historic defeat.
In contrast, the poll suggested that Sir Keir could secure an impressive 537 seats—an increase of 340 compared to Jeremy Corbyn’s performance in the previous election. Such an outcome would constitute a landslide victory, surpassing even Sir Tony Blair’s historic win in 1997.
The survey revealed Tory support plummeting to just 20%, the lowest recorded since 1978 when Ipsos began tracking such data. Ipsos, a multinational market research firm, conducts the monthly independent Political Monitor, of which this poll is the latest installment.
In this latest survey, Labour’s support has slightly decreased from 49% in January 2024 to 47%.
Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats secured the support of 9% of the electorate, while both the Green Party and Reform UK saw their backing rise to 8%—a doubling of their January figures.
In Ipsos’s historical context, the Conservatives’ current support at 20% marks a notable decline, with the previous lowest score recorded at 22% during John Major’s leadership in December 1994 and May 1995.
READ ALSO: Levelling Up Efforts in England Falter: Figures Reveal
