Former Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman has suggested that if Andy Burnham were to replace Keir Starmer as prime minister, the UK could be 'tipped into a general election'. Speaking at the Hay literary festival, Harman said Burnham might feel compelled to seek his own mandate, particularly if Nigel Farage branded him a 'usurper'.
Harman outlined a scenario where the new leader, citing Burnham as an example, would think: 'I need a new mandate,' rather than simply implementing Starmer's agenda. If Burnham experienced a surge in the polls, he might decide to call an election. 'We might find ourselves not only with a new prime minister, but somehow tipped into a new general election,' she added.
Burnham is contesting the Makerfield by-election on 18 June, which, if won, could position him as a frontrunner in any leadership challenge. Harman expressed support for Burnham's candidacy but opposed a leadership contest or another general election, emphasising the value of stability. 'Stability is such a fusty and unsexy proposition, but actually, I think people just want to get on with their lives,' she said.
Harman warned that if Burnham became leader, Farage would argue that the country wanted a new prime minister but 'they want me, they don't want Andy Burnham. Nobody's voted for him, he's a usurper.' To avoid the fate of Gordon Brown, who did not call a snap election after succeeding Tony Blair and saw his popularity decline, Burnham might call an election to secure his own mandate.
Harman, now an adviser on women and girls to Starmer, said she sometimes felt she was 'the only person on the planet' in favour of letting a prime minister continue without disruption, short of misconduct. She also dismissed the idea that Britain was 'ungovernable', calling the job 'very tough' but not impossible.
