With just days to go until Andy Burnham officially becomes Prime Minister, Nigel Farage has demanded an immediate general election, claiming the Makerfield MP has no mandate to run the country. Burnham was announced as Labour leader at a special conference on July 17 following Sir Keir Starmer's resignation and a lack of leadership challenges from other candidates. He received the backing of 349 party MPs, well over the required threshold of 323, and will officially become Prime Minister on Monday July 20, addressing Parliament in September after the summer recess.
Farage Warns of 'Historic Upset' and Third World Country Risk
Speaking at the CPAC GB conference in London, Farage said his party could produce a 'historic upset' and claimed that if he failed to enter No 10, Britain risks 'turning into a third world country' within 10 years. He argued that 'nothing will get better' under Burnham. Farage, who is fighting a by-election in Clacton after resigning as an MP over scrutiny of his finances, stated: 'The only certainty with Burnham is we're going to get more of the same, but they'll go further to the left than they already are.'
Burnham's Mandate and Tax Policy Under Fire
Farage criticised Burnham's mandate, noting he was elected by just 25,000 voters in Makerfield. He said: 'He says he wants to have the biggest change of direction in politics in 40 years, outside of 25,000 voters in Makerfield he has literally no mandate for this at all.' Despite Burnham's pledge to stick to Labour's 2024 manifesto commitment not to increase income tax, national insurance, or VAT, Farage predicted tax rises. 'Taxes are going to rise and there's talk of property taxes, which will collapse the housing market, especially in London and the South East,' he said. He also claimed the top rate of tax would increase and that Burnham would not take the UK out of the European Convention on Human Rights, hindering border control.
Reform UK's Battle for the Soul of the Nation
Farage demanded 'an immediate general election so the country can decide the future,' asserting that Reform UK is well-placed to win the 'battle for the soul of our nation.' He highlighted the party's fundraising success, saying: 'We managed to raise more money last year than any other political party and we are genuinely doing everything we can to get ready to fight that next general election, whenever it begins, and to win it.' He expressed confidence in an upset, adding: 'I believe the British people have simply had enough of weak, gutless, spineless leadership that cares more about opinion in the international community than it cares about the collective good of the people living in this country.'
Warning of National Decline Without Reform Victory
Farage warned that if Reform fails to win the next election, the UK would 'go bust' and 'I honestly believe we're less than a decade away from effectively turning into a third world country, and I will be damned if I'm going to see that.'
