Nigel Farage is far from done, and Andy Burnham's failure to call a general election shows it, according to political commentator Jonathan Saxty.
Farage's Clacton by-election defended
Writing in an opinion piece, Saxty criticised the "wokerati press" for attacking Farage over the cost of Thursday's Clacton by-election, noting that Burnham's own by-election in Manchester cost taxpayers a similar amount.
"At least Farage had the guts to put his case to the people following the witch hunt against him," Saxty wrote. "But, unlike the Reform boss, the newly coronated PM won't make his case to the people with a general election."
Poll lead questioned
Saxty acknowledged a YouGov poll showing Labour two points ahead, and mentioned Labour's "roughly two to three-point lead" over Reform following Burnham's coronation and "gimmicky giveaways."
He challenged Burnham to call an election, saying: "If Labour is so going to win and Reform has so obviously peaked, prove it!"
Manifesto constraints and leadership change
The commentator argued that Burnham would want to escape his predecessor's manifesto with its spending constraints, and questioned why he would oust Sir Keir Starmer if he planned to stick to it.
Saxty also suggested that if Burnham goes beyond the 2024 manifesto, the claim that "we vote for the party and not the leader" would be undermined.
He concluded by urging Burnham to call a snap election, saying: "If then you are so sure of yourself, and if Farage is such a busted flush, pull the trigger!"
