Andy Burnham Urged To Call Election Before Its Too Late

Andy Burnham should call an early general election before his popularity inevitably begins to decline, according to a former Labour adviser.

Liz Bates, who served in Keir Starmer’s government, said the prime minister should go to the polls because “it’s probably not going to get better than this” for him.

Labour has enjoyed a bounce in the polls since Burnham replaced Starmer in No.10 last month, leading to speculation that the new PM may be tempted to call an election to secure his own five-year mandate.

However, he appeared to rule out such a move last month, saying: “I don’t think people want it.”

Nevertheless, Bates – who was a special adviser to former housing secretary Steve Reed before he was sacked by Burnham – insisted he should keep the option on the table.

Speaking to HuffPost UK’s Commons People podcast, she said: “Whilst he is popular, and people like him and he’s brand new, and we have the Burnham bounce and he’s shiny and different, everything seems ok.

“When the pressure starts to come on, and you have to make difficult decisions and you go through tough periods – and there will be tough periods, there always is in British politics – then these questions of mandate really start to fester.

“The pressure to have an election starts to come on and it gets pretty intense.”

Bates added: “I would be tempted, if I was him, to go for it because you get the new manager bounce, Farage is looking bonkers to be honest … the Greens seem to be in a bit of a tricky spot as well.

“It’s probably not going to get better than this [for Burnham]. They will think it’s going to get better than this because it feels like ‘we’re great, we’re better than Keir, look at us’.

“When things get tough and the pressure comes on to have a general election, if you’re down in the polls at that point, all your options narrow. I would do it when things feel sunny and positive.”

Her comments echo those of former Theresa May pollster James Johnson, who this week said an election by next spring is Burnham’s best chance of securing his own Commons majority, defeating Reform and all-but destroying the Tories.

Elsewhere in the podcast, Bates – who is also a former Channel 4 and Sky News journalist – fights back tears as she recalls the day she and other government advisers were told in No.10 that Starmer was resigning.

She also reveals that supporters of the former PM were told to wear sunglasses and stand at the back of the crowd if they thought they would cry when he gave his farewell speech in Downing Street.

You can listen to the full interview below, or just download it from wherever you get your podcasts.

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