Ten points ahead in the polls, Theresa May regarded as the best Prime Minister by a majority of voters and both Labour and Ukip in disarray. It is little wonder, as I say in The Sun today, that some Tories are beginning to get excited about an early election.
But going for an early election would be a massive mistake for the Tories. First, what the public seem to like about Theresa May is that she is a no nonsense politician who gets on with the job in front of her. Voters appear to like her refrain that politics isn’t a game. But calling an early election would destroy all this for it would be game playing on an epic scale, a move designed to take advantage of Labour weakness.
Next, you can’t know how long a honeymoon is going to last. As one Cabinet Minister warns, ‘Remember Gordon Brown started off like this’. But to be fair, those around May are acutely aware that things will get harder once the summer is over.
Finally, an early election would re-open the Tories’ Brexit wounds. At the moment, there is an uneasy truce on the matter. But May couldn’t fight an election without setting out what she means by Brexit. And as soon as she does that, she’ll disappoint one Tory tribe or another.
At the moment, those close to May are adamant that there won’t be an early election. ‘Not going to happen’, one tells me. But if these huge poll leads persist through the autumn, May will come under pressure to go to the country and dish Labour. But she must resist these siren voices.
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