Sunak ‘facing pre-election disaster’ if childcare expansion plan fails in autumn

Persistent fears over staffing and funding could lead to promises being broken to parents weeks before likely poll date

Rishi Sunak has been warned that he faces a pre-election disaster" over his government's high-profile childcare pledge, amid concerns that many parents will be unable to access the scheme just weeks before they go to the polls.

The prime minister has already admitted that practical issues" have hampered the delivery of the free childcare offer, which the government has described as the largest ever expansion of provision. Parents and nurseries have expressed concern about a chaotic situation approaching in April, when all two-year-olds will be eligible for 15 hours of funded childcare.