Rishi Sunak should name the general election date now to end speculation and kill off any chance of a Tory leadership contest, George Osborne said. 

The former chancellor said he believed the “marginal advantage” Mr Sunak might gain from having the date be a surprise was “more than outweighed by the endless speculation”. 

He told his Political Currency podcast: “You fix the date now, you end the speculation, you forestall any leadership contest and you’re back in charge of events.” 

The comments came after Mr Sunak ruled out holding the general election on the same day as local elections on May 2. 

The Prime Minister has previously said his “working assumption” is the contest will be held in the second half of this year.

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