Burnham rules out early general election in next 12 months

Andy Burnham has ruled out an early general election in the next 12 months, after opposition parties suggested one would be called.

The next UK general election must be held by August 2029, and there has been speculation that the prime minister is preparing for an earlier poll.

Asked directly if he would call a snap election within the next year, the prime minister told broadcasters: "I don't know how many times I've done this now but yes, I can rule out calling a general election in the next 12 months."

He said he was focusing on people over the Labour Party, adding: "I'm not thinking about myself. I'm not thinking about my own party and its prospects."

Earlier this month, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch suggested Burnham may go to the country early.

She said the Conservative Party was "coming back" after it slumped in popularity at the end of 14 years in government, telling BBC South East: "This is an era of political volatility and multi-party politics."

She added: "I do think Andy Burnham is going to call an election sooner than he is saying... all the policies he announced are for after an election."

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said in September he believed there would be an election "next spring".

"I believe there must be a general election because Andy Burnham has no mandate - the messiah without a mandate, we deserve a general election on who continues to govern this country."

Burnham was elected MP in June after the Makerfield by-election, before securing the Labour Party leadership and becoming prime minister after Sir Keir Starmer lost the support of Labour MPs and quit Downing Street.

He has since outlined a number of ambitions, which has led some to question whether he will try to secure a fresh mandate before 2029.

One of these issues is Brexit, where Burnham has said he wants an "honest conversation" about the UK's future relationship with the EU.

On Wednesday, he promised to stick to the red lines in his party's 2024 manifesto on EU freedom of movement, the single market and customs union "for the whole of this Parliament".

The current Parliamentary term runs until the next general election.

Burnham has repeatedly denied he is seeking a snap poll. He told broadcasters on Wednesday: "We've got a 10-year plan to come, and that will inform the spending review next year. These are my priorities, not looking at our own internal party political advantage."