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Rishi Sunak has rejected calls for an immediate general election, saying his “working assumption” is still that it will be in the second half of the year.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Sir Keir Starmer said the PM was “scared” to face voters over his record on immigration and mortgage rates.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Mr Sunak said he thought Sir Keir would be “grateful” for a delay because “he has now actually got time to come up with a plan for Britain”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The Labour leader told him: “We are ready. Just call it.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The clash at Prime Minister’s Questions was the final time the two will face each other before MPs go on their Easter break.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\n- Election poll tracker: How do the parties compare?<\/li>\n
- Food and eating out costs drive fall in inflation <\/li>\n
- Lib Dems accuse Sunak of ‘bottling’ May election<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Mr Sunak continues to be dogged by reports that some rebel Tory MPs are plotting to replace him as prime minister before the general election, which must be held by January next year at the latest.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The Conservatives have fallen further behind Labour in the opinion polls since Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s tax-cutting Budget aimed at reversing their fortunes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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But Mr Sunak arrived at Prime Minister’s Questions with a spring in his step after better-than-expected inflation figures, telling MPs it showed his plan was working.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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