Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has confirmed that there will not be a general election on May 2, bringing an end to months of speculation.

Sunak had said in January that his "working assumption" was that a general election would take place in the latter stages of 2024, and in an interview with ITV West Country this evening, the PM confirmed Britons would have to wait to go to the polls.

Sunak's announcement rules out the chances of national and local elections happening on the same day - but means voters could have to hold out until January 2025, the latest a General Election could theoretically take place.

The Prime Minister said: "In several weeks' time, we've got elections for Police and Crime Commissioners, for local councils, for mayors across the country - they're important elections.

"That's what I'm focussed on - there won't be a General Election on that day, but when there is a General Election, what matters is the choice."

Despite mounting pressure on Sunak to call an election sooner rather than later, reports suggest the big day may come in October.

Rishi Sunak has confirmed there will not be a General Election this May

But polling is not pretty for Sunak's Conservatives - the latest figures from YouGov suggest his party is staring down the barrel of a blowout, with just 20 per cent of Britons willing to give the Tories their vote.