Burnham rules out calling early election as PM

Andy Burnham has ruled out calling an early general election if he becomes prime minister later this month.

Taking part in an online Ask Me Anything (AMA) session on Reddit, one user asked whether he would call an election.

Burnham replied: "No. As I said in my speech on Monday, I'm going to work to the 2024 manifesto."

The newly elected MP for Makerfield is so far the sole candidate in the running to replace Sir Keir Starmer as the leader of the Labour Party and could become the prime minister on 20 July.

The last general election was held on 4 July 2024, with Labour winning a landslide majority, meaning the next election must be called by August 2029, though a prime minister can choose to call one at any point before this.

Thousands of Reddit users have been writing questions to Burnham since he announced he would be holding an AMA session on Thursday.

One such user was Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who accused the former mayor for Greater Manchester of answering "softball questions".

"You're going to be prime minister soon so it's time to start acting like one. Come out from hiding, face a proper press conference and submit yourself to scrutiny and some tough questions.

"Are you up for it?"

Burnham replied: "Fair challenge Kemi - but don't forget it's only two weeks since I faced questions from 74,000 members of the public of Makerfield."

Burnham has only given one media interview since announcing his intention to run for Labour leader.

Badenoch has in recent days called on Burnham to fund a shortfall in the recently published defence investment plan if he enters No 10 - or to call an election.

Meanwhile, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called for an election "as soon as possible" following Sir Keir's resignation last month.

Burnham fielded questions from Reddit users on a range of topics and confirmed some policy positions.

He said he would seek to negotiate a returns agreement for failed refugees, including with Taliban-run Afghanistan.

He said he would not scrap the triple lock, a policy introduced by the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition government which guarantees the state pension goes up each year in line with either inflation, wage increases or 2.5% - whichever is the highest.

"I appreciate there's a lot of debate about this but it is important that the commitment in the manifesto stands," he told one user.

He also promised to work for a closer relationship with the EU. Last September, Burnham said he would like to see the UK re-join the bloc within his lifetime, but during the Makerfield by-election campaign in May promised not to "re-run" Brexit arguments.

Asked on Reddit if he would look at a closer relationship and negotiate a more ambitious trade deal, Burnham said: "Yes, I will build on the good work the government has already done in this area."

Burnham has committed to sticking to key elements of Labour's election-winning manifesto - including Chancellor Rachel Reeves' fiscal rules on borrowing.

In an interview with LBC's Andrew Marr on Thursday, he said he would stick to the pledges Labour made not to raise VAT, income tax or national insurance, and would not be "indisciplined" with the public finances.

But he said there was "some room" for movement on tax, suggesting business rates on warehouses could be increased to fund tax cuts for pubs and some high-street businesses.

One of the biggest items in his in-tray if he steps into No 10 will be the issue of how to fund an increase in defence spending.

Sir Keir announced plans this week for a £15bn increase - but did not spell out in full where the extra money was coming from.

It means whoever Burnham chooses to replace Reeves as chancellor will have to find at least £4.7bn in savings from other departments when they deliver their first Budget in the autumn.