Could there be a general election in May?
For a general election to coincide with the local elections on 2 May, parliament would need to be dissolved on 26 March.
Wednesday 6 March 2024 11:34, UK
Speculation about the date of the general election is continuing to swirl, with the latest possible date of a vote being January next year.
Labour has been pressuring Rishi Sunak to call an election as soon as possible, as they lead the government by around 20 points in the polls.
But what has the prime minister said about it so far and is a May election a real possibility? Here's what we know.
Could it be May?
The short answer is yes.
The prime minister is required to hold a general election by 28 January 2025, but it could take place any time in the run-up to this date.
For it to take place in May, Rishi Sunak would need to call the election at the end of March or start of April. This allows for the six-week election period.
If a general election were to take place in May, one tactic would be to have it coincide with local and mayoral elections on the 2nd of the month.
This would require parliament to be dissolved on 26 March, as polling day is 25 working days after dissolution.
26 March is the last day the Commons is sitting before the Easter recess.
What has Rishi Sunak said about it?
The prime minister said in January that it is his "working assumption" that the general election will take place in the second half of 2024.
"In the meantime, I've got lots that I want to get on with," he said.
However, it is notable that Mr Sunak carefully didn't rule other dates out.
What is the most likely date?
If the general election is to take place in May, the most realistic date is 2 May - which would mean it coincides with local elections.
With the above in mind, Mr Sunak would need to call the election by 26 March. At this time, a pre-election period of "purdah" would begin.
It is interesting to note that 26 March is the last sitting day of the Commons before the three-week Easter recess.
When else could the election take place?
Of course, we won't know the exact date of the election until it is called.
But there are three main schools of thought on when it could be - those who believe it could be May, those who favour October, and some who think Mr Sunak will wait until January.
Labour's £10 bet
Shadow paymaster general Jonathan Ashworth has bet Kay Burley £10 a vote will take place in May.
Mr Ashworth said on Tuesday 5 March: "This election I think is coming in May - I think it's definitely coming in May. The Conservatives are planning for May."
Kay replied that she would "bet you 10 of your English pounds it doesn't".
Mr Ashworth shook Kay's hand, saying "I bet you it's coming in May, right? Let's do that - we can do it".
He called on Mr Sunak to "name the date" of the election.
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The Labour politician and Kay agreed the winnings will go to the National Association for Children of Alcoholics, which Mr Ashworth raises money for.
Greg Hands shoots down May
In an interview on Times Radio on the same day Mr Ashworth bet a tenner, trade minister Greg Hands bluntly rejected the possibility of a May election.
Asked if a vote would be taking place in May, he simply said: "No".
Politics latest: Stay up to date with the spring budget
What Sam Coates says
Asked about the likelihood of a May vote, Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates said: "I'm not nailing my colours to any mast.
"We're like GCHQ right, we're interpreting SIGINT - the kind of little bits of signals from here and there.
"We haven't got a coherent pattern at the moment - actually, maybe the budget will tell us what's going on."
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