General election in May ruled out by Tory Minister
More Videos
0 seconds of 0 seconds Volume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts Keyboard Shortcuts EnabledDisabled
Shortcuts Open/Close / or ?
Play/Pause SPACE
Increase Volume ↑
Decrease Volume ↓
Seek Forward →
Seek Backward ←
Captions On/Off c
Fullscreen/Exit Fullscreen f
Mute/Unmute m
Decrease Caption Size -
Increase Caption Size + or =
Seek % 0-9
Next Up
2017: Prime Minister Theresa May calls early general election
01:13
twitter facebook Email Link https://cdn.jwplayer.com/previews/hz8UlLR2 Copied
Loading ad Live
00:25
00:00
00:22
More Videos
Close
A well placed source has told Express.co.uk that a request has been made to the Corporation of the City of London to cancel the Lord Mayor's banquet this year because "there is unlikey to be a Prime Minister that week".
It is important to say that this has been denied by the Corporation itself but the source is somebody who would know the truth of that matter and would know if even an unofficial request had been made.
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Link Sponsored Link
Promoted Links Promoted Links
Decades Later Submarine Found, They Looked Insideinvesting.com
Undo
It would be the first time the banquet was cancelled in almost 800 years, but if it is true then it points to when the preferred date of the election would be.
The banquet takes place on the first Monday after the Lord Mayor's show and the main speaker is the Prime Minister. This year it is due to be on November 11 and it would suggest then that an election will take place on Thursday November 14.
However, whether that is Rishi Sunak's preferred date or not, the issue now guiding the date of the election seems to be more about his survival than anything else.
Sponsored
BrightLifeDaily.com Learn More
The All-New Subaru Crosstrek is Sheer Perfection (Take a Look at The Prices)
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Stay up-to-date with the latest Politics news Join us on WhatsApp Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info
READ MORE: Sunak and Starmer are keener to call each other racist than tackle tax burden
Rishi Sunak speaks at the Lord Mayor's banquet last year (Image: Getty)
According to sources, two camps in Downing Street are pushing for different election dates.
There is "the sensible camp" including strategist Isaac Levido who is pushing for an Autumn election possibly in October but more likely that November 14 date.
Their reasoning is that a May election would be "an act of political suicide" and that another fiscal event (Autumn Statement) is needed in early September if the Conservatives have any hope at all, especially after the Budget fell completely flat last week.
Then there is the so-called "kamikaze group". They are pushing for the Prime Minister to press the button at the end of this month and go for a May 2 election. The final date for that to be confirmed is March 27.
This group's reasoning is that the local elections on May 2 will be so bad that the Prime Minister may get ousted by his MPs or be in a completely unrecoverable position. The theory is that he may as well go on May 2 to avoid that humiliation, as a sort of act of survival giving him the chance to go out on his own terms.
Don't miss...
Lee Anderson’s Reform UK defection is catastrophe for Rishi Sunak's election [INSIGHT]
POLL: Should migrants get ￡3,000 to move to Rwanda? Vote here [REACT]
Nigel Farage slams Archbishop of Canterbury in extremism row [REVEAL]
SUBSCRIBE Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info
Isaac Levido is advising the Prime Minister on his election strategy (Image: Getty)
According to one senior source: "The balance of power ebbs from day-to-day between the two groups. But it seems that the May election group has the upper at the moment."
There is a more serious aspect though, as another source noted: "It is hard to see the PM holding things together long enough to go to the country in the Autumn. People in the Downing Street bunker are literally giving up. If Tory MPs actually got their act together to put letters in the PM would probably just resign instead of fighting it."
Another senior Tory MP added: "We are just limping along like a wounded animal. There is no purpose to this Government."
There is a theory though that the idea of a May election is being floated to avoid more defections to Reform UK or to scare MPs from putting letters in asking for a confidence vote in their leader.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Rishi Sunak's best hope of a general election triumph - and it's not the Budget
126 Comments
National Insurance cut is an excellent idea - but there could be one big problem with it
1 Comments
Blunt warning for Jeremy Hunt as voters say pensioners were left worst off by Budget
74 Comments
Lee Anderson's defection hammers yet another nail in the Tory coffin
29 Comments
Odds slashed on May general election after PM holds private talks with senior Tory
147 Comments
‘Keir Starmer's Cabinet plan reminds me of Chinese Communist Party', says Gordon Brown
225 Comments
Letter demanding Rishi Sunak's resignation signed by 5,000 Tory supporters in 24 hours
1283 Comments
Penny Mordaunt overtakes Kemi Badenoch to top spot in Tory poll
82 Comments
Who's your favourite couple in the Royal Family? Vote here
40 Comments
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt sets clear election dividing line with major tax promise
6 Comments
The monumental terror threat facing Britain that Rishi Sunak failed to mention
221 Comments
'Zero effect Budget!' Jeremy Hunt fails to boost Tories as pensioners abandon the party
591 Comments
UK dubbed 'Hollywood of Europe' as top blockbusters are filmed in Britain
6 Comments
Jeremy Hunt stole Labour's clothes and left Keir Starmer exposed
3 Comments
Rishi Sunak and India's Narendra Modi hail progress on historic post-Brexit trade deal
672 Comments
Jeremy Hunt is Chancellor in name only. This shadowy figure is really dictating our taxes
264 Comments
Labour told to stop scaring pensioners after end of state pension claims
184 Comments
Nadine Dorries savages Boris Johnson comeback claims with brutal Rishi Sunak attack
61 Comments
Rishi Sunak vows to 'turbocharge' economy by slashing ballooning benefits bill
529 Comments
Why Boris Johnson will never campaign for Rishi Sunak - and won't join Reform either
266 Comments
Rishi Sunak's best hope of a general election triumph - and it's not the Budget
126 Comments
National Insurance cut is an excellent idea - but there could be one big problem with it
1 Comments
Blunt warning for Jeremy Hunt as voters say pensioners were left worst off by Budget
74 Comments
Lee Anderson's defection hammers yet another nail in the Tory coffin
29 Comments
Odds slashed on May general election after PM holds private talks with senior Tory
147 Comments
‘Keir Starmer's Cabinet plan reminds me of Chinese Communist Party', says Gordon Brown
225 Comments
Letter demanding Rishi Sunak's resignation signed by 5,000 Tory supporters in 24 hours
1283 Comments
Penny Mordaunt overtakes Kemi Badenoch to top spot in Tory poll
82 Comments
Who's your favourite couple in the Royal Family? Vote here
40 Comments
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt sets clear election dividing line with major tax promise
6 Comments
The monumental terror threat facing Britain that Rishi Sunak failed to mention
221 Comments
'Zero effect Budget!' Jeremy Hunt fails to boost Tories as pensioners abandon the party
591 Comments
UK dubbed 'Hollywood of Europe' as top blockbusters are filmed in Britain
6 Comments
Jeremy Hunt stole Labour's clothes and left Keir Starmer exposed
3 Comments
Rishi Sunak and India's Narendra Modi hail progress on historic post-Brexit trade deal
672 Comments
Jeremy Hunt is Chancellor in name only. This shadowy figure is really dictating our taxes
264 Comments
Labour told to stop scaring pensioners after end of state pension claims
184 Comments
Nadine Dorries savages Boris Johnson comeback claims with brutal Rishi Sunak attack
61 Comments
Rishi Sunak vows to 'turbocharge' economy by slashing ballooning benefits bill
529 Comments
Why Boris Johnson will never campaign for Rishi Sunak - and won't join Reform either
266 Comments
Rishi Sunak's best hope of a general election triumph - and it's not the Budget
126 Comments
National Insurance cut is an excellent idea - but there could be one big problem with it
1 Comments
Blunt warning for Jeremy Hunt as voters say pensioners were left worst off by Budget
74 Comments
Lee Anderson's defection hammers yet another nail in the Tory coffin
29 Comments
Odds slashed on May general election after PM holds private talks with senior Tory
147 Comments
‘Keir Starmer's Cabinet plan reminds me of Chinese Communist Party', says Gordon Brown
225 Comments
Letter demanding Rishi Sunak's resignation signed by 5,000 Tory supporters in 24 hours
1283 Comments
But whatever is going on with the different factions there is a morbid mood developing among MPs with an impending sense of doom about their prospects.
One likened it to the orders given to the foot soldiers on the first day of the Somme before they were sent over the top to get slaughtered.
The senior MP said: "We keep on being told we need to stick to the plan - just like the soldiers were told to stick to the plan on the first day of the Somme. We all know what happened to them!"
Related articles 'Zero effect Budget!' Hunt fails to boost Tories as pensioners abandon the party Letter demanding Sunak's resignation signed by 5,000 Tory supporters in 24 hours Tory MPs think Hunt is wrong that NHS is 'biggest reason' to be proud of Britain Trump has just declared war on EU – and it will infuriate Ursula von der Leyen Labour re-admits ‘river and sea’ MP after attacking Tories over donor row