Cameron snubs Albania for impromptu cabinet meeting

Dear oh dear. Rishi Sunak failed to quash election speculation in this afternoon’s Prime Minister’s Questions and now lobby hacks are desperately trying to figure out whether a big announcement really is looming. In their hunt for clues, a number of journalists have drawn attention to the cancellation of two rather high profile events as Foreign Secretary David Cameron and Defence Secretary Grant Shapps hurry back to Westminster for an impromptu cabinet meeting this afternoon.

Shapps has delayed a political visit to Eastern Europe for this afternoon’s meeting – which sources have told the Guardian is rather unusual given ministers are able to request a pass not to attend. But if political correspondents across the country are frustrated by the lack of direction coming from No. 10 on Sunak’s plans, it’ll be nothing compared to what Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton must be feeling. The Foreign Secretary has been forced to change his plans and cut short a trip to Tirana in order to be back in time to see Sunak today – but dreary London hardly compares to what was in store for the Conservative peer.