Farage says Burnham has ‘no mandate’ and demands immediate general election
Nigel Farage has called for an immediate general election, claiming Andy Burnham has no authority to lead the country.
The Reform UK leader said his party could face a “historic defeat”, but Farage warned Britain risks “turning into a third world country” within 10 years if it fails to get into 10th place.
“Nothing will get better under Andy Burnham,” he added, who will become prime minister on Monday after being confirmed as the new leader of the Labor Party.
Mr Farage, who is fighting a by-election in Clacton after resigning as an MP in protest against parliamentary and media scrutiny of his finances, said: “The only thing certain about Burnham is that we will get more of the same, but they will go further to the left than they already are.”
“He (Burnham) says he wants the biggest change of direction in politics in 40 years – except for 25,000 voters in Makerfield, he has literally no power to do so,” Mr Farage added.
Mr Burnham said Labor would stick to its 2024 manifesto pledge not to increase income tax, national insurance or VAT.
But speaking at the CPAC GB conference in London, Mr Farage said: “Taxes will rise and of course there is talk of property taxes as well, which will crash the housing market, particularly in London and the South East, but will also cause huge damage elsewhere in the country.
“I have no doubt that top rate tax will increase and all this is happening to a man who has no power whatsoever.
“He’s never shown even the slightest concern about immigration, about what’s going on, and of course we think Andy Burnham is going to take us out of the ECHR (European Convention on Human Rights) so our borders are completely under control? There’s not a hope in hell.”
The reform leader said “an urgent general election must be held so that the country can decide on its future.”
Mr Farage said Reform Britain was well placed to win the “battle for the soul of our nation”.
“Last year we managed to raise more money than any other political party and we are really doing everything we can to be prepared to fight and win the next general election, whenever it starts,” he said.
“And I believe we can win this. I believe it’s a historic upset.”
“I believe the British people are fed up with weak, gutless, spineless leaders who care more about the opinion of the international community than the collective good of the people of this country.”
Mr Farage claimed the UK would “go bankrupt” if Reformation failed to win the next election, saying: “I truly believe we are less than a decade away from becoming a de facto third world country, and I’ll be damned if I see that.”
