It does seem strange that Southampton boy Rishi Sunak has gone for an election six months before he has to.

The polls all predict a Labour victory, but recently he has had some encouraging news over the fall in inflation and a pickup in the economy.

A November election would have given him another six months to maybe improve his chances of remaining PM.

Rishi of course has no need to work as he has a wealthy family and he may have decided that the stress and constant pressure of the job of PM is just not worth the aggravation and he just does not need this anymore.

Other speculation that the Conservatives were planning to have a leadership contest before the next election and replace Rishi with Penny Mordaunt may also have forced his hand to go to the polls.

I do not agree with many of Rishi Sunak’s policies but I think he has done as good a job as he could seeing the circumstances he became leader in, after the chaotic ousting of Boris Johnson and Theresa May’s short disastrous stint as PM.

He is also a very visible fan of Southampton FC and is often seen at games cheering on the Saints.

He may need the help of other Saints for him to remain PM but Saints beating Leeds for a return to the Premier League would certainly improve his mood for any election fight.

His time as chancellor with his momentous decisions during the coronavirus epidemic and his grapples with the immigration situation mean Rishi is guaranteed his spot in history win or lose.

Paddy Maxwell
Lordshill