Former Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman has warned that the UK could be “tipped into a general election” if Andy Burnham replaces Keir Starmer as prime minister. Speaking at the Hay literary festival, Harman said Burnham might feel the need to secure his own mandate, particularly if Nigel Farage accuses him of being a “usurper”.
“There is a scenario in which the new leader, let’s call him Andy Burnham, for example, actually thinks: ‘I need a new mandate,’ rather than just manage the implementation of Keir Starmer’s mandate,” Harman said. She added that if Burnham saw a surge in the polls, he might decide to call a general election.
Harman noted that a Burnham victory in the Makerfield by-election on 18 June could pave the way for a leadership challenge, with Burnham as frontrunner. However, she expressed a desire for stability, saying: “Stability is such a fusty and unsexy proposition, but actually, I think people just want to get on with their lives.”
She warned that Burnham could face criticism from Farage, who might say: “Nobody’s voted for him, he’s a usurper.” Harman suggested Burnham might call an election to avoid the fate of Gordon Brown, who did not seek a mandate after succeeding Tony Blair and saw his popularity decline.
Harman, now an adviser to Starmer, stressed that she does not want a leadership challenge or another general election, emphasising the value of political stability.
