Andy Burnham, the sole candidate to replace Sir Keir Starmer as Labour leader and prime minister, has ruled out calling an early general election if he takes office later this month. In an online Ask Me Anything session on Reddit, Burnham said he would work to the 2024 manifesto and not call an election before August 2029, the statutory deadline.
The exchange came as Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch used the same forum to accuse Burnham of answering “softball questions”. She wrote: “You’re going to be prime minister soon so it’s time to start acting like one. Come out from hiding, face a proper press conference and submit yourself to scrutiny and some tough questions.” Burnham replied: “Fair challenge Kemi - but don’t forget it’s only two weeks since I faced questions from 74,000 members of the public of Makerfield.”
“Andy Burnham rules out snap election if he becomes PM, sticking to 2024 manifesto.”
The Reddit session, which drew thousands of questions, also saw Burnham confirm he would not scrap the pension triple lock – despite his own advisers reportedly opposing the policy – and would seek a returns agreement for failed asylum seekers, including with Taliban-run Afghanistan. He promised to work for a closer relationship with the EU, though without reopening Brexit arguments, and said there was “some room for movement on tax”.
The pressure on the public finances, however, may force difficult choices. The Guardian’s Richard Partington reports that Burnham inherits an economy “rattled by a global energy shock, jittery bond markets and rising spending demands”. The outgoing prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, announced £15bn in additional defence spending over four years, but left a shortfall of about £1.2bn a year for the autumn budget. The Treasury says £10.3bn will come from “reallocating budget” across departments, but many decisions remain unmade.
Starmer, who resigned last month, said this week that Labour “will win next election” with Burnham because of my work, insisting he held no personal animosity for his successor. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called for an election “as soon as possible” after Starmer’s resignation.
Burnham, who has given only one media interview since announcing his leadership bid, will become prime minister on 20 July if no other candidate steps forward. Whether he can fund his new direction without breaking the fiscal rules – and without provoking a negative reaction from bond markets – remains an open question.