JOHNSON REFUSES TO RULE OUT CALLING AN EARLY ELECTION IN BRITAIN

Thu 30 June 2022:

The idea of holding an early election “hasn’t occurred to me,” the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson claimed, but he did not rule it out.

Johnson declared that he would refrain from “start talking about politics” while he was dealing with the conflict in Ukraine and the pressures of rising living costs.

He repeatedly failed to rule out the prospect calling a vote before the next scheduled election in 2024.

Johnson has claimed he has a new mandate at Westminster following his victory in a recent confidence vote, despite 41% of his own party’s lawmakers deciding he should go, and was asked whether he would also seek a fresh mandate from the country.

Johnson, a former journalist, told reporters accompanying him on the trip to the Nato summit in Madrid: “Do you know what, I’ve realised where I’ve been going wrong with all this.

“I’ve got to recognise that years and years ago, I used to do the kind of jobs that you all do now, and it was a great, great life and a great privilege.

“What you are able to do is offer opinion, commentary, analysis, predictions about politics, about individuals and so on.

“I think I’ve got to recognise I’m no longer a member of that sacred guild.

“It would be a demarcation dispute for me to cross over and start talking about politics.

“I’ve got to talk about my programme for government, about policy, and what I’m doing to take the country forward.”

Asked whether he was ruling out an early election he said: “I’m just saying, I don’t comment on those sorts of things.”

He added: “The idea hadn’t occurred to me, if you really want the truth, because I’m focused on getting through the cost-of-living pressures, developing and improving, widening, our plan for a stronger economy, and making sure that we continue to offer leadership on some of the tough global issues the world faces.”

Asked if he was leaning towards a snap election he said: “I am not offering commentary, what I’m trying to get over to you is that I’m here to comment on policy, on the agenda of government.”

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