Rishi Sunak eyes more tax cuts as he weighs UK poll date

Rishi Sunak is planning to decide on further tax cuts and the date of the next UK general election around February, people familiar with his thinking said, as the prime minister's aides weigh whether to hold a vote in May or later in 2024.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt's Autumn Statement this week sparked speculation that Sunak is mulling an earlier election than expected, thanks to a fast-tracked payroll tax cut to take effect in January rather than April - giving voters the chance to feel the benefits before a spring vote. Hunt's failure in broadcast interviews to rule out holding his spring Budget sooner than usual stoked the Westminster rumor mill further.

Sunak's aides have previously suggested he's planning an election in November 2024, close to the January 2025 deadline for a vote to be held. The conventional wisdom among lawmakers in the governing Conservative Party has been that Downing Street would want a later election to extend Sunak's time in office, given he only became premier a year ago and opinion polls suggest he is likely to lose power without a huge turnaround in public opinion. Sunak has yet to make a call on the election date and will keep his options open, the people familiar with his thinking said. A Downing Street official sought to play down speculation of an early election.