Tory email hints at date for next general election after Rishi Sunak’s surprise reshuffle
The Tories appear to have inadvertently revealed when they plan to hold a General Election.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak yesterday reshuffled his Cabinet, including appointing Greg Hands as Conservative Party chairman.
But an email sent out by the former Deputy Chief Whip aimed at introducing himself ahead of the campaign kicking into gear implies how long it will be before the country goes to the polls.
In Mr Hands’ message, sent out from party headquarters – CCHQ – he said: “The next 18 months will see us win or lose the next general election.”
It means Mr Sunak plans to call an election in late summer or early autumn next year – almost as late as he can hold it off.
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He could do it in January 2025 – though winter elections are uncommon.
However, the 2019 election was held on December 12 and resulted in then-PM Boris Johnson boasting a landslide majority.
18 months would see the election in August, which is again extremely rare, as parliament is usually in recess around then.
Instead, the email strongly hints that party activists will spend next summer canvassing in a bid to keep Mr Sunak in Downing Street, reports the Express.
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Mr Hands today LBC he “can’t see circumstances where an election would be this year” and a January 2025 poll would “not be very festive” as it would involve a Christmas campaign.
The “strong expectation would be 2024”, he added.
The former Chancellor moved into Number 10 in October last year, replacing Liz Truss.
In his email, Mr Hands urged a reluctant general public to join the Tories, saying: “The deciding factor will be people like you.”
He went on: “I’ll be spending the next few days getting to grips with the party machinery.
“We need it in fighting condition and we need your help to get it there.
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“We need to hit the ground running to keep Keir Starmer out of Downing Street.
“From helping us secure elections across the nation to delivering on the policies that matter, our members fuel everything we do.”
Mr Hands is MP for Chelsea and Fulham, a traditionally blue wall seat, but which is under threat from Labour.
He will be joined in the campaign team by new deputy chairman Lee Anderson, a former miner, trade unionist and Labour councillor before switching to the Tories.
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Mr Anderson said he was “feeling very proud” of his promotion and also pointed to a September election in a recorded message to supporters on Twitter.
He vowed: “I am going to take this new role really seriously, grafting seven days a week, 12 hours a day for the next 18 months up until the general election.”
The Techne UK tracker poll shows Labour with a 21-point lead for three weeks in a row.