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UK's Burnham weighs snap election if he becomes PM, The Sun reports
Reuters ^ | May 30, 2026

Posted on 05/30/2026 11:55:35 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican

Greater Manchester Mayor ​Andy Burnham is ‌considering holding a snap ​general election ​if he becomes ⁠British prime ​minister, the ​Sun newspaper reported on Saturday.

He is ​also lining ​up British interior ‌minister ⁠Shabana Mahmood to be his chancellor, the ​newspaper ​reported, ⁠citing Labour insiders.

Reuters ​could not ​immediately ⁠verify the report.

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS: United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: andyburnham; labour; manchester; shabanamahmood; unitedkingdom

1 posted on 05/30/2026 11:55:35 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: MinorityRepublican

> Andy Burnham is ‌considering holding a snap ​general election <

Labour is quite unpopular these days. So this doesn’t make much sense. After all, Labour currently has a huge majority in Parliament. And the next general election doesn’t have to be held before August of 2029.

So why risk it now?

Maybe Burnham is thinking that Reform and Restore will split the opposition vote, and let Labour sneak through yet again.


2 posted on 05/30/2026 12:05:34 PM PDT by Leaning Right
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To: MinorityRepublican

Burnham has to win his by-election seat 1st, and that’s not a done deal


3 posted on 05/30/2026 12:18:35 PM PDT by Jeff Vader
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To: Leaning Right

“Maybe Burnham is thinking that Reform and Restore will split the opposition vote, and let Labour sneak through yet again.”

I believe I read that he believes he can form a coalition government with Labour and the Greens. He may feel that if he waits, it will be harder to do.


4 posted on 05/30/2026 12:20:01 PM PDT by Fai Mao ( )
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To: Leaning Right

This is about Makerfield...

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/28/andy-burnham-immigration-benefits-policy-makerfield-labour


5 posted on 05/30/2026 12:23:32 PM PDT by mewzilla (Swing away, Mr. President, swing away! 🇺🇸 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿)
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To: mewzilla

More here...

https://www.facebook.com/rupertlowemep/posts/makerfield-the-only-argument-reform-have-left-is-that-they-believe-we-may-split-/1424096246191205/


6 posted on 05/30/2026 12:24:44 PM PDT by mewzilla (Swing away, Mr. President, swing away! 🇺🇸 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿)
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To: Fai Mao

Maybe a wartime unity government with the Conservatives like they had in WW2. Of course, this time the war will be against the British people.


7 posted on 05/30/2026 2:32:56 PM PDT by KarlInOhio (If the Islamic Republic government is in power in Iran when the war is over, we will have lost.)
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To: KarlInOhio

Farage better get a clue and find a way ally with restore or the vote splitting will cement the death grip Labour has on England.


8 posted on 05/30/2026 2:41:31 PM PDT by gibsonguy
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To: MinorityRepublican

Dead country walking.


9 posted on 05/30/2026 2:43:22 PM PDT by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
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To: Leaning Right

“Maybe Burnham is thinking that Reform and Restore will split the opposition vote, and let Labour sneak through yet again.”

That is exactly what he thinks and at the moment he is right. Farage better wise up and find a way to team up with Restore instead helping of Labour paint Restore as a bunch of racist Nazi’s.


10 posted on 05/30/2026 4:54:28 PM PDT by gibsonguy
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To: Leaning Right

More than anything else he needs to win that seat and become a MP in order to become PM.
I’d guess he thinks saying this helps him win this upcoming special election. After winning his seat he can then try to run the Labor government until 2029.
Like they say “and maybe the horse will learn to sing.”


11 posted on 05/31/2026 12:51:20 AM PDT by conejo99
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