There are rumours Andy Burnham could call a General Election in November. The Prime Minister is expected to use the upcoming Holborn and St Pancras by-election on October 8 , caused by Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation as MP, as a “test case” to decide whether to call a snap election.
Burnham may use a positive result at the by-election as a springboard to call for an election on Thursday, November 19. By law, a UK general election campaign requires a minimum of 25 working days.
Although Burnham has repeatedly ruled out holding an election before the end of the current term, speculation is rife in Westminster that he could announce one for as early as November. Analysts believe there are several strategic factors that could tempt him to trigger a vote.
It is reported a snap election could catch Labour’s political rivals off-guard. A senior Reform UK source said “we’re not ready” for a general election, agreeing that the Prime Minister could trigger an election before Christmas if Holborn and St Pancras Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali proves Zack Polanski is a “dud” by beating him “convincingly”.
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Burnham may also opt for an early election in order to secure a personal mandate. As he took over Downing Street following Starmer’s resignation in July, he does not have his own manifesto approved by the electorate.
A November vote would allow Burnham to implement his own agenda, including his upcoming “10-year plan for Britain”. It would also allow him to secure a new term before the looming winter energy crisis, avoiding the fallout of rising energy bills.
The Labour Party would hope the election would catch both the Conservatives and Reform UK off-guard. Both parties are yet to consolidate their strategies or spend their political capital.
