Burnham rules out calling early election as PM
Andy Burnham has ruled out calling a snap general election if he becomes prime minister later this month.
A user participating in an online Ask Me Anything (AMA) session on Reddit asked whether the election would be called.
Burnham replied: “No. As I said in my speech on Monday, I will be working on the 2024 manifesto.”
The newly elected MP from Makerfield is so far the only candidate to replace Sir Keir Starmer as Labor leader and could become prime minister on July 20.
The last general election was held on 4 July 2024, with Labor winning an overwhelming majority, meaning the next election must be held by August 2029, although a prime minister can choose to hold an election at any point before then.
Thousands of Reddit users have been texting Burnham with questions since she announced she would be holding an AMA session on Thursday.
One such user was Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who accused the former Manchester mayor of answering “softball questions”.
“You will soon be prime minister, so it is time to act like prime minister. Come out of hiding, hold a proper press conference and submit yourself to scrutiny and some tough questions.
“Are you ready for this?”
Burnham replied: “A fair challenge, Kemi – but bear in mind it’s only been two weeks since I faced questions from 74,000 members of the Makerfield community.”
Burnham has given only one media interview since announcing his intention to run for the Labor leadership.
Badenoch recently called on Burnham to fund the gap in the recently published defense investment plan or call an election if she lands in 10th place.
Meanwhile. Reform England leader Nigel Farage called for an election “as soon as possible” following Sir Keir’s resignation last month.
Burnham answered Reddit users’ questions on a variety of topics and confirmed some of his policy positions.
He said he would try to negotiate a repatriation agreement for failed refugees, including to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.
He said he would not cancel the triple lock, a policy introduced by the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition government that guarantees state pensions rise each year in line with inflation, wage rises or 2.5 per cent, whichever is higher.
“I appreciate there is a lot of debate about this but it is important that the commitment in the manifesto stands,” he told one user.
