Andy Burnham is facing mounting pressure to call an early general election if he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister on July 20, as new polling reveals widespread public discontent with his anticipated coronation. The former Mayor of Greater Manchester is expected to become PM without a Labour leadership contest, a prospect that has angered voters across the political spectrum.
Polling Shows Voters Want a Leadership Contest
Research by retired Conservative peer Lord Ashcroft found that only 27% of Britons support Burnham becoming Prime Minister without facing a challenger. Half of respondents want one or more other candidates to stand, while 23% are uncertain. Among Labour voters, 45% back the coronation, but only 11% of Reform UK voters support it.
Burnham, who only became an MP in last month's Makerfield by-election, is widely expected to enter Number 10 without a formal contest. Nominations for the Labour leadership open on Thursday and close on July 15, but no challenger has emerged.
Majority Want General Election Soon
Nearly six out of 10 Britons (59%) want a general election within the next year or so, according to the Ashcroft poll. This includes 70% of Reform voters and 62% of 2024 Conservative supporters who want an election as soon as practically possible, arguing the PM should have the consent of voters.
A Reform UK spokesperson said: "Polling clearly shows the British public wants a general election – and so do we. Reform UK is ready for an election, and are ready to deliver radical change. Britain is broken, and only Reform will fix it."
Conservative Peer Doubts Early Election
However, Conservative peer and election expert Robert Hayward doubted Burnham will send the country to the polls early, citing fears among Labour MPs of losing their seats. He said: "The pressure from within the parliamentary Labour party will be very much in the opposite direction."
Lord Hayward does not expect Burnham to face a challenger, even though he considers coronations a "bad idea" for parties and the country because candidates are left untested.
Public Perception of Burnham's Politics
The polling also reveals that 41% of Britons think Burnham is more Left-wing than Sir Keir, while only 3% believe he is more Right-wing. Optimism about his premiership is modest: just 22% think he will do a better job than Sir Keir, while 13% expect him to be worse.
The poll highlights the influence of Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain party, with 11% of Britons saying they like what the party stands for and might vote for it, though 38% rule it out entirely.
Burnham Leads in Best PM Polling
Despite the backlash, Burnham leads when voters are asked who would make the best prime minister: 38% opt for him, compared to 20% for Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and 17% for Reform's Nigel Farage.
This comes as YouGov polling puts Reform UK in first place on 25% (+1), ahead of the Conservatives on 21% (+1), Labour on 20%, the Greens on 13% (no change), the Liberal Democrats on 12% (-1), and Restore Britain on 3% (no change).
