Tory MP Esther McVey has claimed that Andy Burnham's inner circle is plotting a general election gamble to crush the right, as Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey opened the door to coalition.
Early election gamble
Speaking on the Daily Expresso podcast with host Steph Spyro, Ms McVey said sources close to the Prime Minister are urging him to call an early election. Their calculation, she reported, is that a fragmented opposition offers a rare chance to lock in progressive dominance for years.
Ms McVey told the podcast: "Their point of reference is Brown bottling it and not winning. The Conservative point of reference is Theresa May calling it when she shouldn't. So they're saying, oh, he should and he would win. Now the odds are he's not gonna get any more than 170 MPs, while they've got a massive majority. So it's a lot he's given up. He could be a prime minister for three years, but he's going to go."
Darker strategic layer
Ms McVey described a darker strategic layer emerging from Mr Burnham's far-left contacts: "This is a darker side, which I'm hearing from the far left. Of which, you know, Andy Burnham does oscillate. He was a Corbynista. He was Corbynite. He supports him, right? And they're saying, we think now is the time to crush the right.
"They see Reform faltering in the polls. They see the Conservatives doing better under Kemi Badenoch's leadership, but not good enough. A split in the right with Rupert Lowe as well, and Restore. So they think now's the time."
Mr Burnham, freshly returned to Parliament after winning the Makerfield by-election, assumed the Labour leadership unopposed. Ms McVey expressed deep scepticism that personal popularity alone could reverse Labour's dire poll ratings or deliver a transformative government.
Lib Dem coalition door open
The timing of the revelations coincides with Sir Ed Davey's careful refusal to rule out working with a Burnham-led administration. When asked about a potential coalition, Sir Ed called it a "good hypothetical question," while insisting his focus remains on winning seats for his own party.
Sir Ed said: "I'm preparing for the next election to win for the Liberal Democrats and our values," stopping short of any outright rejection of a deal.
