Powell thanks Sunak for ‘big misjudgment’ on last day he could have called poll
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The Leader of the House of Commons has thanked Rishi Sunak on what would have been the final day he could have called a general election. Lucy Powell said the former prime minister made a “big misjudgment for the Tory party, but a good decision for the country” by calling the election for July 4 2024, when it had been expected to be around November.
Shadow Commons leader Jesse Norman said the new Labour Government had provided “regular evidence of its remarkable incompetence” in its first six months in office. During Business Questions on Thursday Ms Powell told MPs it is “a very special day”.
She said: “It could have been a very historic day in fact, because today is the last day that the former prime minister could have called a general election. “Oh how different things could have been. “(The Conservatives) would have still been on this side with three times as many members as they’ve got now, (Mr Norman) would still be enjoying himself on the back benches, and the House would not have the delights of the honourable members for Clacton (Reform leader Nigel Farage) and Boston and Skegness (Reform deputy leader Richard Tice) with their presence instead.
“But instead, we are six months into a Labour Government. “I am sure they do regret calling the general election early, but I am afraid the country doesn’t.”. Ms Powell asked members to think about “what the country would be facing today”, were the Tories still in Government, such as “doctors still on strike”, “public services facing huge cuts”, “the black hole in the public finances still going” and adding, “let’s not even imagine what would be happening with our prisons”.
