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Tory MPs have criticised those within their party who are calling for an early election, branding it a “really stupid idea” to hold it so close to the May local elections.
There has been speculation that No 10 has left the door open for the election to be held in June or July as the Conservatives battle consistently poor polling indicating a catastrophic defeat for the party.
The Prime Minister has repeatedly said it is his “working assumption” that the next poll will take place in the second half of this year but has not explicitly ruled out holding it this coming summer.
However, one former minister said there was “no question of the mass of the parliamentary party wanting an early election” and suggested it was “entirely selfish” for MPs to want it to take place before the autumn.
He argued that the upcoming local elections, which are expected to lead to major loses for the Conservatives, would make the timing “bonkers”.
“Can you imagine saying I’ve lost half my council seats so the best thing to do is call a general election? I can’t see anyone who hasn’t got a very large majority thinking that’s a good idea,” he continued.
“I’ve no doubt these are people who have got very big majorities who are just trying to save their own skins and they’re not concerned about the future of the party.”
These sentiments were echoed by a backbench Tory MP, who added: “Only the masochists want us to go for a June election.”
Some Tory MPs and association chairs have suggested that Rishi Sunak should go for an election “sooner rather than later”, with one Conservative association chair telling i that “what Rishi needs to do is get it over with”.
A former Cabinet minister also said it was “the earlier the better” when it came to the timing of the next election as “we’re f****d anyway”.
They suggested that Labour was being given a “free pass to kick us … over and over again” on issues such as the plan to abolish national insurance, which the Opposition estimates could cost £46bn a year.
Rishi Sunak said on Tuesday that he would call an election when people feel “things are improving” economically.
On a media round of local radio stations the Prime Minister told BBC Radio Tees: “I think people hopefully will increasingly feel that things are improving and that we’re heading to a place where, as I said, I want to give people peace of mind that there’s a brighter future for them and their families, they can have a renewed sense of pride in our country. That’s the direction of travel and so we’re now heading in the right way.”
And speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle he said: “I’ve said that repeatedly and clearly that my working assumption would be that we have a general election in the second half of the year. There’s been no change to that.”
Alongside debates over an early election, some Tory MPs are also turning their thoughts to who could replace Rishi Sunak if the Prime Minister steps down following a damaging loss for the party.
Members of the right-wing Popular Conservatives (PopCon) group, founded by Liz Truss, have reportedly been discussing bringing in a “Truss-style” candidate who supports the former prime ministers free-market libertarian views.
Former home secretary Priti Patel is said to be their favoured candidate, but some Tory MPs have cast doubts on whether the PopCons are influential enough to parachute in a candidate.
A former minister suggested that they did not believe that “Priti was a runner” in any potential leadership elections, while a backbench MP told i that they were “not sure who PopCon think they speak for”.
They added that they “doubt” that the group could drum up to 70 MPs it claims would be needed to get behind Priti Patel.
