Burnham Rules Out a General Election Within 12 Months
Andy Burnham has ruled out calling a general election in the next year, after Conservative and Reform claims that he would seek an early mandate. “I can rule out calling a general election in the next 12 months,” he said after the Budget. He also promised to keep Labour’s manifesto red lines on freedom of movement, the single market and customs union “for the whole of this Parliament”.
The pledge comes with Labour riding a post-leadership bounce: an Ipsos poll puts the party on 32%, the Conservatives on 24% and Reform UK on 20%. Brexit remains the live seam. Jonathan Reynolds told the BBC that UK and EU officials will discuss “future options” for the relationship, including free movement, before the 20 November summit. Downing Street insists there are no current talks on the subject. Labour MPs in Leave-voting seats are nervous; Melanie Onn warned that trust is “hard-earned and easily lost”. Nigel Farage says Burnham has “no mandate” to negotiate.