Almost three quarters of voters want the next general election to take place by May next year, a new survey has suggested. 

A More in Common poll conducted between October 14-16 found 73 per cent of people want the next election to be called by the spring. 

Some 18 per cent want the election before the end of this year, 23 per cent in the first few months of next year and 32 per cent around May next year. 

Meanwhile, 15 per cent were in favour of an election being held at some point next autumn and 12 per cent said January 2025 - the absolute latest it could be called by Rishi Sunak. 

Mark Harper, the Transport Secretary, this morning appeared to pour cold water on the idea of an early election, telling Times Radio that he believed voters wanted the Government to be “focused on their priorities”. 

Mr Sunak said at the start of October that a snap general election was “not what the country wants”. 

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