Sturgeon says Burnham may struggle to avoid early election

Summarised from 2 outlets · 3 reports · Updated 2 Nov, 18:03 · Archive

Nicola Sturgeon said Prime Minister Andy Burnham lacks a political mandate for his promised reforms and may struggle to avoid an early election.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham ruled out an early general election last week, insisting there would not be a vote 'any time soon'. However, Scotland's former first minister Nicola Sturgeon said on the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme that it is difficult to see how Mr Burnham can avoid holding one in the 'relatively near term'.

Ms Sturgeon said Mr Burnham currently has goodwill but 'has no political mandate for the big reforms he wants to make'. She noted that he came to office promising the end of neoliberalism and wants to reform social care and sort out the relationship with the EU. However, she said he has 'very, very limited, almost no fiscal room for manoeuvre' to deliver these promises. Despite her criticism, Ms Sturgeon said she wants Mr Burnham to do well because 'the entirety of the UK needs that to happen'.

A leading pollster has warned that an early election would be a 'hell of a risk' for Mr Burnham, predicting he would lose a 'significant' number of MPs even under 'the most optimistic scenarios'. Research published by More in Common showed voters think the recent Budget falls short of the Prime Minister's promises on every issue, with only 19 per cent believing it tackles the welfare bill as promised and only 13 per cent thinking it will end 40 years of neoliberalism.

How it is being reported

• Early election would be 'a hell of a risk,' pollster warns, as survey shows anger over welfare bill failureAn early general election would be a 'hell of a risk' for Andy Burnham, a leading pollster has warned, as a survey showed anger over the Government's failure to tackle welfare spending.Daily Mail · 2 Nov, 17:48
• John Swinney said Andy Burnham would be the 'last Prime Minister'... but Nicola Sturgeon admits she wants Labour leader to 'do well'Nicola Sturgeon has said she wants Andy Burnham to succeed as Prime Minister, just days after he urged separatist leaders to put politics aside and work with him.Daily Mail · 1 Nov, 19:53
• Hard to see how Andy Burnham can avoid general election soon – Nicola SturgeonThe Prime Minister has ruled out holding an early general election.Evening Standard · 1 Nov, 13:43

In this story: Andy Burnham · Nicola Sturgeon · Scotland · United Kingdom · Labour · More in Common

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