Jeremy Hunt hints at autumn election, PM confirms July leaders summit

Jeremy Hunt has hinted at a general election in the autumn as speculation grows over when Britain will go to the polls.

Speaking to the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee on Tuesday, the chancellor was asked about the government’s spending review – a detailed multi-year plan for how departments will spend cash – and revealed the next review “must be completed by April 2025” .

“Of course,” he added, “if the election is held in October, that means things are very, very tense.”

The comments came on the same day that Prime Minister Rishi Soeuk announced that he would host the European Political Community summit in the UK on July 18, suggesting that a vote before the meeting is unlikely.

Politics Live: Chancellor appears to have made a gaffe as election could go ahead

last week, Mr Sunak rules out May 2 general election – the same date as many local elections across the country – followed public pressure from opposition parties and theories spread in newspapers.

But he still hasn’t revealed further when he plans to face voters, saying in January that his “working assumption” was that it would happen in the second half of the year.

The latest Mr Sunak can vote is January 2025.

However, Sunak has endured a difficult few weeks following the rebellion over Rwanda’s asylum scheme, the defection of right-wing Lee Anderson and criticism over his handling of comments by a major Tory donor about Diane Abbott , few people believe Sunak will wait that long.

There were even reports over the weekend that members of Congress were considering Propose a compromise candidate Penny Mordaunt, leader of the House of Commons, replaces the Prime Minister before the next election.

But other Tory backbenchers told Sky News that a fourth leadership change since voters went to the polls in 2019 would spell disaster for the party.