Former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said it is difficult to see how Prime Minister Andy Burnham can avoid holding a general election soon, despite his ruling one out last week.
Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme, Sturgeon said Burnham has "no political mandate for the big reforms he wants to make" and that she does not see how he can avoid a vote in the "relatively near term".
No mandate for reform
Sturgeon said Burnham has "a lot of goodwill right now" and that people are giving him "the benefit of the doubt", but they want to see him start delivering on his promises.
She noted that Burnham came to office promising the end of neoliberalism, reform of social care, and sorting out the relationship with the EU, adding that he has "very, very limited, almost no fiscal room for manoeuvre".
Political capital dissipates quickly
Sturgeon also said she wants Burnham to do well, stating: "I’m not a Labour politician, I think everybody knows that, but I find myself wanting him to do well, wanting him to succeed because I think the entirety of the UK needs that to happen."
She added: "He needs to get on and use it because, you know, I know political capital dissipates quickly, and you find yourself then looking back thinking, ‘Oh, I wish I’d done more with it’ sometimes. So get on and and do these things."
The UK Government has been approached for comment.
