The prime minister sat down for his first major interview with Laura Kuenssberg.
Andy Burnham sat down for his first major interview with BBC News, and it did not take long for the new prime minister to spark criticism from viewers. During the interview, Laura Kuenssberg asked Burnham whether he plans to call a general election. She pointed out that the UK’s 48 million electorates have not had the opportunity to vote on his plans, however, he firmly ruled out the prospect.
The former mayor of Greater Manchester said: “There is no early general election. 20 plus million people voted for a manifesto. We’re in a parliamentary democracy so that is what people voted for and I will honour that manifesto. I have faced the public in Makerfield. At the time I stood forward in the by-election, that constituency had voted Reform in May. I went and faced the public. I went out onto those doorsteps. I’ve got the support from colleagues in parliament and it’s a parliamentary democracy we are in.”
Andy Burnham claimed the country does not want a general election (Image: BBC)
When asked if he is officially ruling it out, Burnham responded: “I am going to rule it out. There’s no early general election. I don’t think people want it.”
While he acknowledged that recent polls have suggested some people support the idea and others do not, he insisted his main aim is to get “Britain back to where it should be and getting it working”.
This was not the response viewers hoped for, with many taking to social media to voice their frustration.
One fumed: “Politics is the only occupation I know where blatant, bare faced lying to protect your job, is admired and encouraged. Every poll makes it clear that the majority of voters think he has no mandate and a GE is needed.”
Hitting out at Burnham, another said: “He is in such a delusion it’s so sad to see.”
A third agreed: “Yes, we do want a General Election, Cuckoo Burnham. You have no mandate or legitimacy.”
Another echoed: “Andy Burnham has zero mandate. He wasn’t even an MP in the 2024 General Election. When the Tories changed leader, he demanded a General Election. ‘Only one possible response … We need a General Election.’ Now, he says people don’t want one.
“His PR is better than Starmer’s (couldn’t have been worse, to be fair), but Labour know they are taking Britain in the wrong direction. But they don’t know what to do. He’s no better than Angela Rayner, with her refusal to pay back £16k severance pay. One rule for thee, another for me. Let’s have a manifesto from him, and then an election. Let’s see what the people want, and if they want Burnham, good luck to him. If they don’t, let’s get a Gov’t that solves problems, not makes them.”
Someone else shared: “I’m a Labour voter and I want an election. Burnham oozes confidence in his belief that he knows what the general public want so it would only be in his favour to call an election then he can solidify that belief. By not calling an election he just looks like a wannabe king.”