Boris Johnson refuses to rule out an early general election in 2023 as he says ‘nobody is thinking about that right now’ and insists ‘we want to get on with delivering’
- Boris Johnson refused to rule out an early general election taking place in 2023
- The Prime Minister said that ‘nobody is thinking about that right now frankly’
- But he did not commit to serving full term – next election due to happen in 2024
- The Government is in the process of repealing the Fixed-term Parliaments Act
Boris Johnson today refused to rule out an early general election in 2023 as he insisted he is ‘focusing on the job in hand’.
The Prime Minister said that ‘nobody is thinking about that right now frankly’ and ‘we want to get on with delivering’.
He repeatedly declined to commit to serving a full term, with the next election currently scheduled to take place in 2024.
Boris Johnson today refused to rule out an early general election in 2023 as he insisted he is ‘focusing on the job in hand’
Mr Johnson repeatedly declined to commit to serving a full term, with the next election currently scheduled to take place in 2024
There is growing speculation that Mr Johnson could go to the country earlier than planned.
The Government is in the process of repealing the Fixed-term Parliaments Act which was rolled out in 2011 and dictates that parliamentary terms last for up to five years.
The legislation, introduced by the Coalition Government, dictates that following the election in 2019, the next national poll will take place on Thursday May 2, 2024.
The Conservative Party pledged in its most recent manifesto to get rid of the law, arguing that it should be up to the PM when elections are called.
Currently an election can only be triggered outside of the normal parliamentary cycle if two thirds of MPs vote in favour of one or if the Government loses a vote of no confidence.
Mr Johnson was asked during an interview on Times Radio if he is considering an early election in 2023 or if he intends to serve the full term until 2024.
He replied: ‘We are focusing on the job in hand. We are getting on with uniting and levelling up.’
Asked again if there could be a general election in 2023, Mr Johnson said: ‘Education, infrastructure, technology. You are seeing already something that the British people haven’t seen for more than a decade which is an increase in pay packets.
‘As I said to you, the increase is being felt most by those on the lowest incomes.’
Pushed for a final time on if he will serve his full five year term, Mr Johnson said: ‘We are focusing on the job in hand and nobody is thinking about that right now frankly.
Mr Johnson secured a crushing Conservative majority at the 2019 general election as the Tories won 365 seats and Labour sunk to just 202. He is pictured arriving back at 10 Downing Street on December 13, 2019, following his victory
‘We have come out of a pandemic, the UK has got the fastest growth of any G7 economy.
‘We are dealing with all the opportunities that that presents, some of the stresses and strains that that presents, and it’s a very exciting time.
‘We want to get on with delivering.’
Mr Johnson secured a crushing Conservative majority at the 2019 general election as the Tories won 365 seats and Labour sunk to just 202.
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