Jeremy Hunt suggests general election will take place in October as speculation mounts over poll date

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Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has suggested the general election could take place in October, as speculation continues over when the UK could go to the ballot boxes for a national vote. .

Last week, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ruled out holding a snap election on May 2, when voters are due to go to the polls for local elections across England.

He has already said his “working hypothesis” is that he will hold a vote in the second half of the year, but he has not yet confirmed a date.

Speaking in the House of Commons on Tuesday afternoon, Mr Hunt suggested the vote could take place in October, as he was asked about the Government's spending plans.

“And of course, if the general election takes place in October, that will mean that it will be very, very close, and that is why we "We are thinking in advance about the most important element of this spending review, which is the productivity element: how can we have more productive public services," Mr Hunt told members of the Economic Affairs Committee.

The Chancellor addresses MPs on the Treasury Committee earlier this month

(House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA Wire)

Earlier in During session, Mr Hunt, who faces a battle to retain his south-west Surrey seat, also said he hoped to deliver "another fiscal event this Parliament".

The Speculation about a May 2 election had reached its peak. until Mr Sunak finally ruled out holding one on that date.

Downing Street sources later told The Independent that the election had been scheduled for the second Thursday in October. p>

Labor accused the Prime Minister of being too afraid to go abroad while the Conservative Party lags behind.. .