Reform UK's home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf has launched a blistering attack on prime minister-in-waiting Andy Burnham, demanding he call a general election. Speaking on BBC Question Time, Yusuf accused Burnham of being a career politician 'foisted' on the British people without their consent.
Yusuf's Challenge on BBC Question Time
Yusuf, echoing party leader Nigel Farage's call for a national vote, said: 'I just can't believe we're back here again. The Tories gave us five prime ministers in six years, this is again a situation where we have a career politician, who's not had a proper job in his entire life, foisted on the people of Britain as prime minister without them having any say on it.' He added that only 0.03% of the British public voted for Burnham.
Debate Over Burnham's Mandate
During the debate, Yusuf questioned whether Burnham is the 'saviour of Labour and the country' alongside Labour chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee Emily Thornberry and Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake. He asked the Kettering audience to raise their hands if they could see Burnham's vision for the UK; only about a dozen of the roughly 90 attendees did so.
Yusuf continued: 'Here's what we know about Andy Burnham, for sure. He has already become the king of U-turn and he hasn't even become prime minister yet.' He argued that the 'endless conga line of clownish prime ministers' results from a lack of mandate, and that Labour ministers are not focused on governing.
Call for Manifesto and Election
'If Andy Burnham was a decent man, and maybe he is, then he would put his case to the British people, draft a manifesto and call a general election,' Yusuf said. Despite Reform UK topping opinion polls, Burnham won the Makerfield by-election last week by about 9,000 votes, fending off the Farage-led party.
Burnham's Path to Premiership
Burnham returned to Westminster on Monday and could become prime minister as soon as July 20 if he remains the only candidate to succeed Sir Keir Starmer. If no other candidates emerge, he is expected to be formally declared Labour leader at a special conference on July 17, the day after nominations close. The formal handover would occur on the next working day, July 20, following party precedent.
