𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Andy Burnham will not call an early election if he becomes Prime Minister. It follows speculation he was considering such a move if he successfully challenges Sir Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership. A spokesman for the Greater Manchester Mayor, who is running for Labour in the Makerfield by-election, said he had ruled out calling a snap election.

Mr Burnham will need to beat Reform UK’s candidate on June 18 to become an MP. The expectation is that he will then challenge Sir Keir for the Labour leadership – and if he wins, he will come under pressure to hold a quick general election. Some supporters had also hoped he would announce an early poll, to give him a personal mandate to run the country. But it’s now clear that he has no such plan.

Mr Burnham, a former Cabinet minister, promised a vote for him in Makerfield would be a vote to “change Labour” when he launched his campaign last month.

He is one of 14 candidates standing in the election, which was triggered when Labour’s Josh Simons MP stood down.

Labour’s poor performance in the May 7 local elections has fuelled doubts about Sir Keir Starmer’s future, with internal factions preparing for a possible contest.

If Burnham loses, figures like former Health Secretary Wes Streeting or former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, could mount a challenge.

Rupert Lowe MP’s Restore Britain could split the vote for Reform UK at the Makerfield by-election.

The first by-election polling by Survation last week found Mr Burnham had a slender lead over Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon, with Restore likely to take votes from him.

The Survation study put Mr Burnham on 43%, Mr Kenyon on 40% and Restore Britain’s Rebecca Shepherd on 7%.