Rishi Sunak still refuses to rule out July election despite being hit with defection of Tory MP to Labour and warnings it would be ‘suicide’ – as crucial local polls loom this week [Video]

02:41 EDT 28 Apr 2024, updated 12:22 EDT 28 Apr 2024

Rishi Sunak has again refused to rule out a July general election despite being hit with the defection of a Tory MP to Labour and warnings it would be ‘suicide’.

The PM dodged as he was grilled on the timing of a national ballot, insisting he would not go any further than that it will be in the second half of the year.

Frenzied rumours have been circulating at Westminster that Mr Sunak is about to pull the trigger on a contest, even though polls show Labour with a massive advantage.

Tories fear they are on track for a drubbing in local elections on Thursday, with hundreds of council seats on the line and key mayoral jobs. 

In a fresh blow, Dan Poulter announced last night that he was quitting the party, which the part-time doctor complained was not prioritising the NHS.

Senior Conservativeshave warned that it would …