'Second half of the year', UK PM fires starting gun on election

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during a visit to the MyPlace Youth Centre, in Mansfield, in the East Midlands, Britain January 4, 2024. Jacob King/Pool via REUTERS

LONDON (Reuters) -Prime Minister Rishi Sunak fired the starting gun on Britain's next election on Thursday, saying his "working assumption" was it would take place in the second half of the year, all but ruling out an earlier vote opposition parties had called for.

With his governing Conservatives heavily trailing Labour in the polls, Sunak moved swiftly to end calls for an early election by saying he had work to do, including cutting taxes - a major demand from some in his party.