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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“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?
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.
I think you’re underestimating the stupidity of the UK electorate.