Former Home Secretary Alan Johnson has called on Labour leader and Prime Minister Andy Burnham to consider calling a general election before the next scheduled vote in 2029, arguing that Burnham should seek a personal mandate to demonstrate public support for his government’s new policies. Speaking to Times Radio, Johnson emphasized the importance of restoring trust in politics and suggested that Burnham should not complete the full Starmer-era term without going to the country.
Johnson, who served as a Cabinet minister under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown alongside Burnham, acknowledged that Labour MPs may be reluctant to face an early election but stressed that it is “vital” for Burnham to obtain democratic legitimacy for his agenda. He referenced Brown’s decision to delay calling a general election after succeeding Blair in 2007 as a cautionary example.
The calls for an election come amid speculation about the timing of the next poll. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch recently wrote to the Cabinet Secretary requesting formal pre-election discussions with civil servants. Badenoch has suggested that Burnham might call an election sooner than expected, contending that Labour’s current manifesto limits the government’s ability to raise taxes needed to fund its agenda. She has urged senior civil servants to be fully prepared for the possible transition, highlighting the need for clarity on Conservative plans for extensive reforms should the political gamble fail.
Burnham has dismissed the idea of an early election, reiterating during a visit to Ukraine last week that such a move is not aligned with public desires amid ongoing national and international challenges. When asked why he would not seek to capitalize on Labour’s recent polling boost, which shows the party overtaking Reform UK in several surveys, Burnham said his priority remains “the needs of the country and not party-political interest.”
As debate over the timing of the next general election intensifies, key figures within both major parties are positioning themselves ahead of a potentially pivotal political moment. Johnson’s intervention adds to growing discourse about the appropriate moment for Burnham to seek a fresh mandate from voters after Labour’s recent electoral gains and policy shifts.