Rishi Sunak dodges on frenzied rumours he will trigger an election TODAY as he ... trends now
Rishi Sunak dodged on frenzied speculation that he could pull the trigger on a snap election today.
The Prime Minister insisted that the ballot will happen in the 'second half of the year' as he was grilled at PMQs.
The election has been widely expected towards the end of the year, with the government hoping the economy will turn round.
However, there has been intense chatter today that Mr Sunak could spring a bold surprise, despite Labour being miles ahead in the polls.
Senior sources claimed briefing was coming from Labour, but refused explicitly to rule out the PM making an announcement later today. That would give a potential date of July 4, although .
Mr Sunak is due to gather his Cabinet after PMQs this afternoon, with the meeting having been delayed from yesterday as a result of his trip to Vienna.
The drama is threatening to set the Tory tinderbox ablaze, with MPs telling MailOnline that Mr Sunak has a 'death wish' and the Parliamentary party will go 'nuts' if he tries to call an election.
There are claims that 1922 chair Graham Brady is now accepting texts voicing no confidence in the leader.
One former Cabinet minister said: 'There will be queues outside Graham Brady's door.'
Snap election rumours swept Westminster with speculation Rishi Sunak could pull the trigger as early as today
There is intense chatter this morning that Mr Sunak could spring a bold surprise, despite Labour being miles ahead in the polls
The rumours gathered pace after Mr Sunak hailed a 'major milestone' with inflation tumbling to the lowest level in nearly three years.
BBC Political Editor Chris Mason fuelled the speculation by saying he was 'twitchy' about the election timing.
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said in the Commons: 'Speculation is rife, so I think the public deserve a clear answer to a simple question. Does the Prime Minister intend to call a summer general election or is he feart?'
Mr Sunak replied: 'There is, Mr Speaker, spoiler alert, there is going to be a general election in the second half of this year.
'At that moment, the British people will in fact see the truth about the honourable gentleman opposite me, because that will be the choice at the next election Mr Speaker, a party that is not able to say to the country what they would do, a party that would put at risk our hard-earned economic stability, or the Conservatives that are delivering a secure future for our United Kingdom.'
The headline CPI rate slid from 3.2 per cent in March to 2.3 per cent last month - near the Bank of England's 2 per cent target.
The PM said the figures showed that his plan is working and 'brighter days are ahead'.
However, the drop, driven largely by easing energy prices, was less than the 2.1 per cent analysts had pencilled in - sparking concerns that the Bank of England might delay interest rate cuts.
Core inflation, another key factor for
