Could Andy Burnham call a general election before Christmas 2026? In this video, I examine the rumours and ask why an early election might appeal to a Prime Minister whose government already has a substantial parliamentary majority.

Burnham inherited Labour’s majority from Keir Starmer, but he does not have his own electoral mandate. I consider whether an election now could give him that mandate and potentially secure another five-year term, or whether it would be an extraordinary political gamble.

With the Greens, Reform and Lib Dems on the ropes and the Tories newly confident, but not with much extra support, he may take a gamble on going to the country.

That said, Labour could lose its majority in an early election while potentially remaining the largest party. That raises the possibility of a hung parliament and negotiations with parties such as the Liberal Democrats and SNP.

That could make electoral reform crucial. The Liberal Democrats might demand proportional representation in return for their support, while other parties could have their own conditions. But Burnham might calculate that losing Labour’s majority now could still provide longer-term political opportunities.

There is also the economic situation to consider. I argue that the world economy faces significant risks between now and the currently scheduled election in 2029, and any serious downturn could transform Britain’s political landscape and consign Labour to history as punishment for ending up in charge when a crash happens again, unless PR happens first. Burnham might realise that and want to get the order of events right to secure Labour's long-term future.

I also look at David Cameron’s 2010 coalition with the Liberal Democrats as a possible precedent. A coalition lasted for five years before Cameron subsequently secured a Conservative majority in 2015.

None of this means an early election will happen. But there are political reasons why Burnham might consider going to the country sooner rather than later. The question is whether he believes the opportunities outweigh the considerable risks.

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