Andy Burnham has reportedly been urged by some of his advisers to call an early general election in 2027. According to The Telegraph, several members of the Makerfield MP's team are pushing for an election in the spring, despite the next one not being required until August 2029.
Poll suggests hung Parliament
The calls come after a YouGov poll released this week showed Labour would remain the largest party if an election were called tomorrow. However, the poll indicated it would result in a hung Parliament, with the Burnham government falling 85 seats short of an overall majority.
Despite this, The Telegraph reports that some advisers have urged the Prime Minister to take advantage of his early popularity and call an early election to secure his own mandate. The outlet reports that one senior source said Labour would be 'naïve not to be contemplating all scenarios'.
Downing Street rejects rumours
The BBC has also reported that some in Labour believe the PM is planning for an early election, although Downing Street has officially rejected the rumours.
It comes as Reform's popularity has lessened over the summer as Nigel Farage faces probes over the party's financing and the £72m handed to it by two non-UK based crypto-billionaires. The party is currently polling at its lowest share since January 2025.
