Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has confirmed his party has already begun preparing a new General Election manifesto so it will be ready if Prime Minister Andy Burnham calls an early election.
Speaking as the Liberal Democrats gathered for their autumn conference in Brighton, Davey said the party had established a manifesto working group chaired by Cheadle MP Tom Morrison.
Asked about the possibility of an early election, Davey said the Liberal Democrats would be ready if one came sooner than expected, while also acknowledging that the next contest could still be as much as three years away.
Manifesto preparations begin unusually early
The preparations are notable because Davey has acknowledged that the Liberal Democrats would not normally begin the process this early in a Parliament.
The Guardian reported that Davey said the working group had already been created so the party could respond if Burnham called an election, adding: “We don’t normally do it this early.”
ITV News subsequently reported Davey saying the party would not be caught on the back foot by a snap election and confirming that Morrison was chairing the manifesto group.
The move does not mean the Liberal Democrats have evidence that an election is imminent. It does, however, show that one of Britain's major opposition parties is taking practical steps to ensure it is prepared for the possibility.
Fresh development in snap election speculation
Speculation over an early General Election has continued since Burnham became Prime Minister without first securing his own mandate at a national election.
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak has previously raised the possibility that Burnham could eventually decide he needs a fresh mandate for his programme, while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has said she believes Burnham wants to call a General Election.
Polling expert Sir John Curtice has also warned that going to the country early could represent a significant electoral gamble for Labour in an increasingly fragmented political landscape.
Davey's comments are different from speculation about Burnham's intentions because they confirm a concrete step being taken by another political party in preparation for the possibility of an early contest.
No election announced
There remains no announcement from Burnham or Downing Street that an early General Election will take place.
The Prime Minister has previously rejected suggestions that he intends to call an early contest, and the Liberal Democrats' preparations should not be interpreted as evidence that a decision has been taken inside government.
Davey himself stressed that an election could still be years away.
Nevertheless, with the Liberal Democrats now beginning manifesto preparations earlier than usual, Britain's political parties are increasingly having to consider the possibility that the next General Election could arrive sooner than the parliamentary timetable would otherwise require.