MPs from across the party are urging him not to go to the country early, as the Tories, SNP, Greens and Reform prepare for a possible election between September this year and May next year.<\/p>\n
With the likelihood of a leadership contest to succeed Sir Keir Starmer rapidly receding, Mr Burnham is being advised in some quarters that he will not have the necessary mandate for change if he fails to call an election.<\/p>\n
Home Office minister Mike Tapp, who opposed Sir Keir being replaced, has publicly called for one, while one of Mr Burnham’s main backers has privately warned: “We will be trapped with the empty 2024 manifesto if he doesn’t go to the country.”<\/p>\n
But figures on the hard left of the party, including former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, have told him he does not need an election to have authority for change amid fears many of them could lose their seats to Reform and the Greens.<\/p>\n
There has been mounting speculation that the MP for Makerfield could call a general election<\/a> to take advantage of a boost in support for Labour following his return to frontline politics. <\/p>\n But Mr Burnham\u2019s office has dismissed the speculation as he seeks to avoid upsetting MPs, even though a win would give him five years in office, rather than the three he could currently have.<\/p>\n Tensions have been further raised by interventions by former PM John Major<\/a>, who warned that dealing with buses in Manchester is very different from handling Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, and former deputy prime minister Michael Heseltine<\/a>, who said Mr Burnham risks being “an empty mouth” instead of a real candidate for change.<\/p>\n New polling this week revealed the party has enjoyed a significant bounce<\/a> with Mr Burnham appearing all but certain to replace Sir Keir. Labour\u2019s approval ratings have plummeted since it won a historic general election victory in 2024, but there are hopes that if Mr Burnham becomes prime minister he could draw a line under the chaos of the party\u2019s first two years in office. <\/p>\n However, a number of MPs \u2013 some of whom have very small majorities \u2013 are pleading with him not to take the risk, when an election does not need to be called until 2029<\/p>\n Liverpool Riverside MP Kim Johnson, on the hard left of the party, warned: \u201cWe’d get battered if he did\u201d, while Rachael Maskell said there is \u201cno need for a general election\u201d. <\/p>\n \u201cPeople vote for a party and a manifesto. They do not change. We are not a presidential system but a parliamentary democracy, so who holds which job has never been a decision of the electorate\u201d, she told The Independent.<\/p>\n Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell added: \u201cWe don\u2019t have a presidential system and so I don\u2019t think we need an election. Andy Burnham may want to demonstrate what he can do for a period before he goes to the electorate to ask for their support.\u201d<\/p>\n Another senior MP warned: \u201cDefinitely not!\u201d, while Burnham ally Luke Charters insisted: \u201cIt\u2019s not on the cards.\u201d<\/p>\n A third Labour MP with a small majority dubbed it a \u201cterrible idea\u201d, while a party source added: “We’ve just been through two years of turmoil, I don’t think the public would appreciate a general election right now. It would waste more time and energy rather than getting on with fixing the country.”<\/p>\n It comes after a poll showed that Labour has gained six points in the wake of Sir Keir announcing he will resign as party leader and prime minister with the prospect of a \u201ccoronation\u201d for Mr Burnham looking likely.<\/p>\n![\"Will](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2282766751.jpeg\")
Will Burnham have the mandate to govern without a general election? (Getty)<\/p>\n
![\"Farage](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/01KVWG8F8F53V34NG2GGXYBBMF.jpg\")
Farage believes there will be an election in 2027 (PA)<\/p>\n