According to a recent report, Downing Street believes that scheduling the next general election for the fall of 2024 will increase the Tory Party’s prospects of winning.
Although there is no confirmed date, Rishi Sunak‘s team is reportedly considering the months of October and November in 2019.
It is hoped that after the prime minister’s second year in office, the economy would have improved, which will help his reelection campaign.
According to rumors, Mr. Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt are discussing lowering the top rate of income tax in the upcoming autumn statement. If approved, the change would take effect in April 2024.
This may also coincide with a rise in the national living wage next spring, while plans are reportedly in the works to lower the age threshold for the living wage from 23 to 21.
Ministers are being advised that the living wage should rise from £10.42 to £11.16 an hour, or more, amid the cost of living crisis, it’s believed.
A senior government source told The Times: ‘It’s all about people feeling that they have more money in their pocket by the time we get to the next election.’
Officials also hope the controversial Illegal Migration Bill will have taken effect and the number of refugees coming across the Channel will have dropped.
The notion of calling an early election has been firmly rejected as the Conservatives trail behind Labour in the polls.
Trackers are currently placing the Tories 18 percentage points behind on average – down from 24 points when Mr Sunak took over in October.
The latest a general election can be held is January 2025 and some Tory MPs fear a hung Parliament could still emerge, The Telegraph says.
In the lead-up to the next election, they are apparently looking to paint Sir Keir Starmer as a ‘flip-flopper’.
It comes after focus groups said they are unsure what the Labour leader stands for, amid confusion on his views on issues including trans rights and picket lines.
The Tories have been in power for 13 years, but have faced countless scandals over recent years.
Boris Johnson was forced to step down in shame last year and is currently facing an investigation into whether he misled MPs over parties at Downing Street during lockdown.
Liz Truss then became the shortest-serving prime minister in British history when her disastrous mini-budget sent the economy into a spiral.
Mr Sunak has not been immune to scandal himself and has faced criticism for a string of U-turns, a fine from police and alleged bullying from some of his Cabinet ministers.
But allies say he wants to present himself as the ‘change candidate’.
Downing Street has declined to comment on when the next general election may be.
But a government spokesperson said the ‘economic priority for the government is to cut inflation’.