Burnham faces election pressure as voters reject ‘coronation’ route to No10

Andy Burnham is facing mounting pressure to call an early general election if he enters Downing Street as expected, with new polling suggesting many voters want the incoming Labour leader to secure a fresh mandate before governing from Number 10.

The former Greater Manchester mayor is widely tipped to succeed Sir Keir Starmer, but the prospect of him becoming Prime Minister without a contested Labour leadership battle has triggered criticism from voters who believe the public should have a say.

Research by former Conservative peer Michael Ashcroft, Baron Ashcroft found only 27 per cent of Britons support Mr Burnham becoming Prime Minister through an uncontested leadership transition.

Meanwhile, 50 per cent said one or more alternative candidates should stand in the Labour leadership contest, with a further 23 per cent unsure.

The poll suggests the public appetite for a leadership challenge is strongest among opposition voters. Only 11 per cent of Reform UK supporters backed a so-called “coronation”, compared with 45 per cent of Labour voters.

Pressure is also growing for an early nationwide vote.

Almost six in 10 voters — 59 per cent — said they wanted a general election within the “next year or so”.

That figure rises among supporters of opposition parties, with 70 per cent of Reform voters and 62 per cent of Conservative voters saying an election should happen as soon as practically possible.

A Reform UK spokesman said the polling showed voters wanted the chance to decide the country’s direction.

“Polling clearly shows the British public wants a general election – and so do we,” the party said.

However, election expert Robert Hayward questioned whether Mr Burnham would risk an early election, arguing many Labour MPs would fear losing their seats.

He said pressure from within the Parliamentary Labour Party would likely push against an immediate vote.

The polling also highlights concerns among voters that a Burnham-led Labour government could represent a shift further to the Left.

Around 41 per cent of respondents said they believed Mr Burnham was more Left-wing than Sir Keir Starmer, while only 3 per cent thought he was more Right-wing.

Optimism about a new Labour premiership remains limited.

Just 22 per cent of voters said they expected Mr Burnham to perform better than Sir Keir, while 13 per cent believed he would do worse.

Despite those doubts, Mr Burnham currently leads when voters are asked who would make the best Prime Minister.

The poll found 38 per cent selected Mr Burnham, compared with 20 per cent for Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and 17 per cent for Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.

The findings come amid a difficult political landscape for Labour, with recent polling showing Reform UK ahead of the major parties.

A YouGov survey placed Reform on 25 per cent, followed by the Conservatives on 21 per cent and Labour on 20 per cent. The Greens were on 13 per cent, the Liberal Democrats on 12 per cent and Restore Britain on 3 per cent.

For Mr Burnham, the challenge will be turning a leadership transition into public confidence.

Without an electoral mandate of his own, critics argue he would enter Downing Street facing questions over legitimacy, while supporters will argue the country needs stability rather than another immediate national contest.

The decision over whether to seek a fresh mandate could become one of the defining early tests of a potential Burnham premiership.