PM claims an election is 'not what anybody wants' - despite polls showing it is

03 October 2023 , 13:14

589     0

PM claims an election is 'not what anybody wants' - despite polls showing it is

Rishi Sunak has claimed a general election is "not what anybody wants" - despite polls showing almost 50% of the public want one by spring 2024.

The Tory leader, whose party is trailing Labour in the national polls, insisted he was not afraid of a vote but appeared puzzled by the prospect of one soon. It came as it was put to him he is a "man without a mandate" following his defeat to Liz Truss in the Tories' leadership election last year.

He was later handed the keys to No10 - without a members' vote - after Ms Truss's government collapsed amid turmoil in the financial markets. Speaking to Sky News on the third day of the Conservatives' annual conference, he said a general election is "not what the country wants".

Appearing riled by the presenter, he said: "I go out and about everyday - that is not what anybody wants. What people want is politicians making a difference to their lives." Pressed on whether he was afraid of an election due to the prospect of losing, he replied: "Not at all, I'm just getting on and delivering for people."

The next general election has to be held by the end of January 2025 but last month a survey by YouGov found 26% of people wanted one to be held before the end of 2023. A further 23% said one should be called for spring next year while 7% opted for the summer, 8% for the autumn and just 3% for the winter of 2024.

Teachers, civil servants and train drivers walk out in biggest strike in decade

Mr Sunak's comments follow a chaotic day at the Tory conference as he prepares to announce the fate of the northern leg of HS2 from Birmingham to Manchester. In a series of broadcast interviews on Tuesday, the PM again refused to be drawn on the project.

He said: "As I do with all the things I go through, I take the time to get it right and do what I think is right for the country. I think it's right that I'm not going to get forced into making premature decisions. Not on something that's so important, that costs this country tens of billions of pounds."

Labour's National Campaign Coordinator Pat McFadden told The Mirror: "We've had 13 years of Tory failure. The Prime Minister isn't a cure for that failure - he's a product of it.

"And every day the Tories stay in power it all just carries on. "He is too weak to take on all the competing factions and contenders already jockeying to replace him. The sooner the election comes the better because it's time to turn the page on the Tory years and start to rebuild Britain".

* Follow Mirror Politics on , , and

Ashley Cowburn