Rishi Sunak struggling to smother frenzy of election rumours

Rishi Sunak is said to be feeling more secure after a week of policy progress but advisers are nervous about imminent local election results. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

In a sign of how febrile the atmosphere in Westminster is just now, there were wild rumours flying around on Friday that Rishi Sunak was planning to finally call an election straight after the weekend.

The fact that this particular theory appears to have begun with Labour party speculation that the prime minister could announce a date to put an end to questions over his own leadership does not appear to have slowed down its spread.