Burnham's No 10 advisers are pushing for an early spring election as YouGov poll puts Labour on TOP

From the Newshound archive · first published 25 September 2026.

Senior figures on Andy Burnham's No 10 team are said to be pressing him to hold a general election in early spring, convinced it gives Labour the strongest shot at winning an outright majority. The push follows a YouGov MRP poll of almost 17,000 people that projected Labour as the largest party on 241 seats — still 85 short of a majority — while the Tories and Reform combined would be stranded on 253.

Advisers have warned Burnham could only call an early election if the Middle East crisis has eased and the cost of living pressure has fallen.

A senior government source said there is 'diverse opinion across government' on timing but that Burnham would be 'naive not to be contemplating all scenarios'.

The poll also handed Burnham leverage on Brexit: anti-EU campaigners are reportedly urging him to put rejoining the EU at the heart of Labour's manifesto to secure a Lib Dem, SNP and Plaid coalition.