Andy Burnham is facing mounting pressure to call a general election as he prepares to become prime minister without a public vote, a move that contradicts his own demand for an election when Liz Truss resigned in 2022.
Burnham's 2022 Demand for Election
On October 20, 2022, then-Prime Minister Liz Truss resigned, triggering a Conservative leadership contest. Andy Burnham, then Mayor of Greater Manchester, posted on social media: "#GeneralElectionNow." Angela Rayner, now a key Burnham supporter, echoed the sentiment on October 24, 2022, stating: "Rishi Sunak has been crowned by Tory MPs. It's a coronation, not an election. He has no mandate and the British people have had no say. #GeneralElectionNow."
Changing Circumstances
Now, Burnham is set to become prime minister after Sir Keir Starmer's resignation, without a general election. Neither Burnham nor Rayner is calling for a vote, despite the same principle applying. According to constitutional convention, a change of prime minister does not require an election, as Parliament is elected, not the PM. However, Burnham's past stance has drawn criticism for inconsistency.
Growing Pressure for an Early Election
Labour MP Mike Tapp stated before Starmer's resignation that a new prime minister should trigger a general election. An Ipsos poll conducted between June 22 and June 24, 2025, found that 55% of voters support a law requiring an automatic general election when the ruling party changes its leader during a parliamentary term. The poll was taken after Starmer's resignation, suggesting voters had Burnham in mind.
Strategic Considerations for Burnham
Speculation is growing that Burnham might call an early election, possibly before mid-2029. A snap election could disadvantage Reform UK, whose leader Nigel Farage is still building his party machine. The Makerfield by-election revealed candidate recruitment issues for Reform, and Farage faces competition from Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain. The Conservatives, led by Kemi Badenoch, are slowly rebuilding their brand but have not yet surged in polls. Burnham might see an early election as a way to secure a personal mandate and deny Badenoch time to recover.
Internal Labour Opposition
However, many Labour MPs oppose an early election. Labour currently holds 403 of 650 Commons seats. While a new election could see Labour win, it would likely reduce the number of Labour MPs. Burnham might view a smaller majority as acceptable for a personal mandate, but MPs facing potential defeat are strongly against it.
