Achi news desk-
Conservative ministers believe that the passing of the Rwandan legislation, which intends to see a number of asylum seekers deported to the east African nation, is evidence that they are acting to “stop the boats”.
After the bill passed Mr Sunak revealed that he hoped to start moving asylum seekers to Rwanda in July.
Asked by reporters on Tuesday about a possible vote in July as he flew to Poland on Tuesday, Mr Sunak left the option open, repeating his familiar formula: “My working assumption is an election in the second half of the year.”
It is still widely expected that the country will go to the polls in October or November, but a vote in July would help Mr Sunak avoid a surge in small boat crossings over the summer and silence any Tory coup possible if the Conservatives, as expected. badly in the English local elections on May 2.
Mr Sunak has repeatedly refused to explain when the general election will be, promising to hold it only in the second half of 2024. The latest possible date for an election is 28 January 2025, which means Mr Sunak could delay the vote for another eight months.
He had already been accused of being a “chicken” and “squatting in Downing Street” after ruling out holding the general election on the same day as the local elections in England.
His latest refusal to clarify when the general election will be comes as the Conservatives sit 21 points behind in the opinion polls. A series of opinion polls have shown that the party is heading for electoral oblivion, with even Mr Sunak at risk of losing his seat.
The latest Ipsos opinion poll showed that support for the Conservatives has fallen to its lowest level for 45 years.
The pollster found the Tories on just 19% – the lowest level ever for the second month in a row – with Labor leading by 25 points on 44%.
And in a further blow to Mr Sunak, his personal approval ratings are now at the worst level in the history of the Ipsos poll – matched only by John Major in 1994 and Jeremy Corbyn in 2019.
The Conservatives are about to lose hundreds of seats on local councils in England but all eyes will be on the two prominent Tory mayors Ben Houchen and Andy Street.
Both were elected to the Tees Valley and West Midlands mayoralties respectively with significant majorities and are the most powerful Conservative figures outside of Westminster.
