No General Election “Any Time Soon,” Says UK Prime Minister Burnham

LONDON: British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Monday that the country should not expect a general election in the near future, stressing that his priority is governing rather than seeking a fresh mandate for his plans to build closer ties with the European Union.

In an interview with ITV’s Good Morning Britain, the Prime Minister was asked when voters might be presented with a manifesto setting out a path back into the European Union. Mr Burnham replied that an election was not under consideration, telling viewers: “There is no election coming any time soon.” He added that the public could set the question aside.

The Prime Minister said that Britain was beginning to recover its momentum, confidence and sense of direction, and described stronger relations with Europe as an important part of his effort to set the country on a clear course.

In the same interview, Mr Burnham said he believed Brexit had damaged the British economy and weakened the country’s control over immigration, and expressed the hope that the United Kingdom might one day return to the European Union. He stressed, however, that any such step would ultimately have to be decided by the British people. He also used the appearance to reaffirm his support for the principle behind Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s proposed reforms to the rules on permanent settlement for migrants.

Mr Burnham became Prime Minister on 20 July 2026 after being elected leader of the Labour Party four days earlier. A former Mayor of Greater Manchester, he returned to the House of Commons in June 2026 through the Makerfield by-election. His remarks come two days before the government presents its budget on Wednesday.