Andy Burnham today moved to quell mounting speculation he is plotting an early General Election, telling journalists there will be “no election anytime soon” and the next vote will be “in 2029”. The Mail has more.
The Prime Minister said he was “not particularly” tempted to call a snap vote, despite polls showing Labour is ahead of Reform for the first time in months.
Burnham’s political opponents have talked up the prospect of an election as early as December as he seeks to gain a fresh mandate for tax rises and spending increases.
But a major analysis last night suggested if it happened Labour would lose its majority and plunge the country into the chaos of a hung Parliament.
Labour would be the largest party, according to YouGov, but be forced to seek a ‘rainbow coalition’ of centre Left parties to govern.
Asked about the speculation on a round of regional media interviews today, Burnham told BBC West: “I see all the speculation and it just races ahead. And, you know, the media love to do that. No, no election any time soon.”
Later he went a step further telling ITV Calendar that 2029 is “when the next election will be”.
“All of this speculation on an early election, I can I can knock that dead,” he continued.
“You know people want me, new in office, to be getting on with the job of delivering on the things that we’ve discussed in this interview rather than putting self-serving politics before that, which was what I would be doing if I call an election, I’m not going to do that.”
There are concerns that the fevered rumours about an early election – furiously denied by No. 10 – could prove another unwanted distraction from Burnham’s plans.
Labour has seen a poll bounce since Burnham took over, and advocates of going to the country early argue that it could be the best chance of clinging on to power, with another inflation shockwave from the Middle East crisis about to hit.
Worth reading in full.
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He has a big majority. He has another three years to take the Socialist wrecking ball to Britain substantially damaging it if not completely destroying it. The aim of the Fabians – so a new Socialist Utopia can be built on the ruins.
People yap on about a mandate. The dozy electorate gave Labour a mandate to govern in 2024 – that’s how our system works.
As for he is stuck with Starmer’s manifesto and cannot move away from it. Why? Starmer didn’t stick with it and tossed it in the bin day one.
It will be better if this bunch continue the ruination so a Reform victory can be assured. If anyone thinks it is bad now, I invite you to read about 1970s UK. That’s where we are heading and nearly there.
Nothing’s so bad it can’t get worse.
So the strategy is, if asked tell them you’ll vote labour, to skew the polls so that Burnham gets false hope, then hit them where it hurts once they call an election. If you told them you’ll vote labour were voting green or libdem, it might also reduce the tactical voting or tactical agreements on candidates
Puppets do as they are told. The sooner everyone realises this things become much clearer. Who are the puppet masters. Perhaps the daily sceptic might write an article telling us.
I have absolutely no idea what’s gonna happen. At least I can admit it… unlike the polling organisations.
“YouGov is a global research data and analytics group. Our mission is to offer unparalleled insight into what the world really thinks and does.”
LOL
The polls are currently showing Labour in a slight lead, but short of a majority. They also show that the CONs are either level pegging with Reform or shortly ahead.
But we all know about the phenomenon of shy Tory … and even shyer … Reform voters and local election results don’t support the poll numbers.
I don’t believe the polls and I think this announcement by the Cock of the North shows that he doesn’t either.
Theresa (Calamity) May believed the polls – that worked out well.
I am sure all readers of this site respond to all of what Burnham says with the same credulity we use for all other announcements by the political class over the past 30 years.
That is, we will not believe a word of it.
How often for Starmer tell us he would serve a full Parliament. How often did Dave tell us Brexit would be implemented if we voted for it. How often did all of them assure us in writing that immigration would be reduced in number and restricted to those who made us better off.
Is Burnham in training for some kind of “Char-iddy” Marathon? According to press photographers he’s always on-the-run….
Running away from reality no doubt.
Or running to catch one of his buses?
“despite polls showing Labour is ahead of Reform for the first time in months.”
I wonder if that is because they know a sizeable portion of people won’t admit to polsters they will vote Reform for fear of censure or state harassment?
I certainly hope so, I would be so amused if the whole scurrilous bunch of polling organisations were blind-sided because of the government’s dislike of honesty.
It’s a YouGov poll. YouGov uses a pool of registered participants whom (I think) get a fee. I think it polls on-line.
This is a self-selecting group of politically aware people, not a random cross section.
The journos need something to do – but there are quite a few to come soon, like the Camden by election, and the budget etc.
I’d say he’s at peak bounce now, and set to downhill fast once it becomes clearer what an absolute retard he is and his bonhomie starts to reach its sell-by date.
I think it’s pretty clear already what an absolute retard he is.
If it’s not clear to someone now that voting Uniparty is a bad idea, then only a catastrophic collapse is going to change their minds. Instead I think we will have slow decline.
We’ve been going bust slowly for some years now, it’s due to speed up any time now.
Heavily dependent on the credibility of the PMs closest team to the bond markets. They have now seen what a moron he is, how unwilling to take on his insane backbenchers and how unsuited to be chancellor Healey is – as they say in the Ryanair safety videos – “brace brace”.
I don’t honestly see how they will prevent it. I know what they should do, but Burnham is too weak to do it.
It’s an absolute sh!tshow.
Alas. I think that might be so.
I think you’re underestimating the stupidity of the UK electorate.
Bear in mind a large chunk of it is on the Government payroll as welfare recipients, such as the civil service, quango employees, NHS and other public services, those who don’t work at all.
Andy Capp gets my vote as he has already made a huge difference to my life.
I now get £1 off tickets for bus journeys I don’t take, I can buy beer at football matches to which I don’t go, and I’m paying for a nationalised railway I don’t use.
As for soaring energy prices, inflation, terrifying debt, economic decline, invasion of aliens, sending my cash to Ukraine, Palestinians, having a military incapable of defending me – Piff! Trivia.