Andy Burnham rules out snap election – ‘I don’t think that is right’ | UK | News
New Prime Minister Andy Burnham has rejected calls for an early election. Mr Burnham, who took office nearly a week after replacing Sir Keir Starmer, said Labor would stick to its 2024 manifesto and holding an election now would “delay this important work”.
He said: “No, I’m not. I don’t think that’s right. We live in a parliamentary democracy.”
“There was a manifesto for 2024, I am sticking to that manifesto.
“I’m putting forward my own version, but it’s still included in this manifesto. I think we should just focus on making the country work.”
“This is the top priority right now. The general election will delay this important work.
“I’m also trying to do politics differently, like I did when I was mayor of Greater Manchester.”
Despite only being in office for a few days, Burnham’s approval rating currently sits at +13; This is more than Sir Keir Starmer had at any point during his two-year term in office.
But a YouGov poll for the Times and Sky News published today (July 24) shows Reform has a two-point lead over Labor when it comes to voter intent.
Reform is on 23 per cent, Labor is on 21 per cent, the Conservatives are on 20 per cent, the Liberal Democrats are on 14 per cent and the Greens are on 13 per cent.
Since taking office, Burnham has made a series of spending announcements and opened the new No10 North at Heron House in Manchester.
He said it would be “a case for making Britain better”.
Burnham has already been dragged into controversy over prisons after announcing she would halt early prison release schemes.
The move follows reports that two murderers jailed for the manslaughter of police officer Andrew Harper could be released early.
Albert Bower and Jessie Cole were jailed for manslaughter after a computer was attached to a vehicle’s belt and was dragged for more than a mile on interstate roads. The new Prime Minister said no prisoners would be released under the scheme until the government had conducted a review and “done everything we can to minimize the risk to the public”.
But former Conservative Party justice minister Sir David Gauke said the decision meant prisons would run out of capacity by November.
