Andy Burnham Pledges to Follow Labour 2024 Manifesto and Reject Early Election if Prime Minister

Andy Burnham said on 3 July 2026 that he would not call an early general election if he becomes prime minister. The MP for Makerfield is the sole candidate to replace Sir Keir Starmer as Labour Party leader and could take office on 20 July. Burnham made the remarks during an online Ask Me Anything session on Reddit.

He said he would work to the 2024 Labour manifesto. The last UK general election was held on 4 July 2024, when Labour won a landslide majority, and the next election must be called by August 2029. Burnham 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 on the state pension and would build on existing government work for a closer relationship with the EU and a more ambitious trade deal. Burnham said he would seek to persuade his party of the need for a manifesto commitment to electoral reform. He committed to sticking to Labour's pledges not to raise VAT, income tax or national insurance.

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 high-street businesses. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Burnham of answering "softball questions" and urged him to face a proper press conference.

Burnham replied that it was only two weeks since he faced questions from 74,000 members of the public in Makerfield.

BBC reported that Burnham has given only one media interview since announcing his leadership bid. Sir Keir Starmer announced plans this week for a £15bn increase in defence spending. Whoever replaces Rachel Reeves as chancellor will have to find at least £4.7bn in savings from other departments for the first Budget in autumn 2026.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called for a general election "as soon as possible" following Sir Keir Starmer's resignation last month, BBC reported.