I'm not tempted to call an early election, Andy Burnham says

This weekend, Burnham attends his first Labour Party conference as prime minister, with many expecting discussions about the possibility of a snap general election to feature prominently at the event in Liverpool. Recent polls suggest that while Labour may lose its overall majority if an early election were called, it is likely to remain the largest party in the House of Commons. These projections come amid reports that some of the prime minister’s advisers have been considering the option of holding a poll as early as next year.

However, Burnham dismissed the idea of a snap election in interviews conducted with BBC regional political editors before the conference’s start on Sunday. When asked by BBC West political editor Paul Barltrop about the temptation to call an early election, the prime minister answered, “No, not particularly. No, I’m not.” He pointed out that speculation about the election “just races ahead,” and made clear that his focus remains on governing: “No election anytime soon. I’m focused on the job as prime minister, doing what I said I would do.”

Further questions regarding the timing of a potential election came from BBC East Midlands political editor Peter Saull, who inquired whether a general election would be held next May alongside local council elections. Burnham responded unequivocally with “no,” adding, “Not having a general election.” He emphasized that his priority at the conference is to outline “the direction I want to take the country in,” focusing on addressing the cost of living for individuals and easing the financial burdens faced by businesses. Burnham stressed that these issues must take precedence over what he described as “throwing the country into a backward-looking process where we’re arguing again amongst ourselves.”

The prime minister also addressed the recent surge in migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats, noting a record single-day crossing of 781 people arriving in 10 boats. Burnham stated his aim to eliminate these crossings entirely but did not specify a timeline for achieving this goal. He committed to ongoing efforts, saying the government “would not stop” working until numbers decrease significantly. He also attributed the UK’s reduced ability to control arrivals to Brexit, pointing out the “loss of collaboration with neighbours” as a key factor. Additionally, Burnham reiterated his refusal to engage in “special interviews” with The Sun, recalling his longstanding displeasure with the newspaper over its 1989 Hillsborough disaster coverage. He defended his proposal to allow regional mayors in England to impose a new tax on tourists’ overnight stays, expressing confidence that visitors would “not begrudge paying a few extra pounds.” Lastly, he assured that the government would provide support to people within the available resources at the upcoming Budget

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More