UK premier rules out early general election

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Friday that he is not tempted to call an early general election, arguing that doing so would throw “the country into a backward-looking process.”

In interviews with BBC and ITV regional political editors, Burnham said his focus is on helping people with the cost of living and supporting businesses, adding that there are no plans for a general election before 2029.

Asked whether the next election would be held in 2029, he replied: “Yes, that’s when the next election will be.”

“All of this speculation on an early election, I can knock that dead,” Burnham said.

The next general election must be held by August 2029, although the prime minister can choose to call it earlier.

His remarks came as recent polling suggested Labour’s position had improved since Burnham replaced Keir Starmer in July.

According to a YouGov poll conducted for Sky News and The Times and published Thursday, Britain is on course for a hung Parliament if an election were held now, with no party projected to secure an overall majority and Labour expected to win the most seats.

“I see all the speculation and it just races ahead,” Burnham said when asked whether he would be tempted to call an early poll.

He added: “No election anytime soon. I’m focused on the job as prime minister, doing what I said I would do.”

The prime minister said he wants to use the upcoming annual Labour Party Conference to say more about “the direction” in which he wants to take the country.

“The focus is on that, helping people with the cost of living, helping businesses with the cost of running a business,” he said.

“These have got to be the priorities right now, rather than throwing the country into a backward-looking process where we’re arguing again amongst ourselves.”

On small boat crossings, Burnham said his goal is that he does not “want to see any crossings at all.”

His remarks came two days after at least 781 migrants crossed the English Channel to reach the UK, the highest single-day total recorded this year.

Despite the continued arrivals, overall Channel crossings have declined this year.

More than 18,500 migrants have crossed the Channel so far this year, down 45% from the same period in 2025.