UK To Host EPC Summit In July, Timing Could Hint At Oct Election

No. 10 Downing Street has confirmed that the UK will host the next leader-level meeting of the European Political Community (EPC) on 18 July. The meeting is set to bring together more than 50 European leaders from EU and non-EU members at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. The meeting is likely to be dominated by discussions on the situation in Ukraine, as well as efforts to combat illegal immigration.

• The timing of the summit could prove important in indicating the potential date of a general election, due in the UK by Jan 2025. Paris Gourtsoyannis at STV notes: "Why does the date matter? It’s 18 July, five days before Westminster breaks up for summer recess…" With the EPC date set, the general election would not take place before then, limiting the window to September or later.
• Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt is currently delivering evidence before the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee. Chris Smyth at The Times posts on X: "Jeremy Hunt hints at October election. Says that doing a spending review after the election before next April "if the general election is in October, that will mean it's very, very tight"."