The former Environment Secretary, Ranil Jayawardena, has said he would be ‘perfectly happy’ with a May General Election and said the government could ‘call Labour’s bluff’ by announcing an earlier vote.

Speaking on GB News, Ranil Jayawardena said:

“I'm always happy to go to my constituents and speak to them and see what they're thinking and hopefully count on their support.

“I'd be perfectly happy with an election in May, if that's what the Prime Minister decides to do. I think we've got a really positive case to take to the country.

“I think we can do it on our own terms if we go in May, rather than being timed out towards the end of this Parliament.

“And I think it will also call Labour's bluff here because really, they don't want the election in May. They're saying that they want one in in order to try and put us off.

“I think we could very easily call their bluff.

“I'm very sad to see people go like Paul Scully, who I think is a great guy and a really good MP for Sutton and Cheam.

“I'm sure we'll select some really good candidates in place of people like Paul though, and there are some great people coming through so I don’t think the Conservative Party is short of new talent.”