By GB News (World News) | Created at 2026-10-02 12:36:03 | Updated at 2026-10-02 13:35:44
1 hour ago
Chris Philp has declared he "cannot trust a word" Andy Burnham says after reports of him considering an early general election.
Speaking to GB News, the Shadow Home Secretary argued that Mr Burnham "changes his story on any given topic on an extremely regular basis", from the Waspi women to Brexit.
Downing Street insiders have claimed there is a "growing school of thought" for an early general election to be called in May 2027.
A No10 source told the i Paper: "There is a growing school of thought that there might be a sweet spot for an early general election."
However, the Prime Minister last week made clear there would be "no election any time soon" and he is "focused on the job as Prime Minister doing what I said I would do".
Reacting to the insider claims, Mr Philp told GB News that there can't be "any reliance" on anything Mr Burnham says.
He argued: "First of all, Andy Burnham changes his story on any given topic on an extremely regular basis, and you can't put any reliance on anything, he says.
"I think in a day or two ago, he seemed to take two different positions on European Union membership in the space of a single interview.
"And so we know he says one thing and then changes his mind or says something different very quickly."
Chris Philp has declared he 'cannot trust a word' Andy Burnham says
GB NEWS / PA
The Tory MP stressed that the PM has changed stance on many issues, not just the possibility of an early election.
He said: "He's done it on all kinds of different issues, going back to the Waspi women during the by-election.
"Even in the last 24 hours, Manchester City Football Club, he can't even get his story straight on that.
"He changes his mind from one day to the next, so I don't really trust a word he says, to be quite honest."
Throwing his support behind Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, Mr Philp made clear that their party is "ready" for an early election should it be called.
He told GB News: "We Conservatives are ready, we've got the right team in place, led by Kemi, who's doing a great job, and we've got the right policy packages in place.
"Cut welfare spending, cut taxes, give proper money to the armed forces, make sure we hire more police, secure our border by leaving the ECHR. So we've got the team, we've got the plan and we are ready."
Criticising Mr Burnham, Mr Philp said that he doesn't have "any ideas" for how to lead the country "this side of an election".
Mr Philp told GB News that Andy Burnham will try to 'cut and run' and call an early election
GB NEWS
He said: "It's very likely that at some point Andy Burnham will cut and run and try and call an early election, because he doesn't really seem to have any ideas for what to do this side of an election.
"He's saying he'd do all these things after an election in three years time, but in the meantime, he seems to propose to do not very much at all, apart from give out good vibes and wear a funky t-shirt.
"But that is not really what we need about Prime Minister, we need real leadership."
Dismissing the chances of an early election being called, Transport Minister Keir Mather accused Mrs Badenoch of throwing down a "dead cat".
He told GB News: "I don't know how much clearer the Prime Minister can be about this issue in ruling out an early general election.
"It's a bit frustrating, actually, that just before the Conservative Party conference, Andy Burnham set out three big issues around social care, about building more homes, electoral reform, the future of our relationship with Europe that Kemi Badenoch could be engaging on, and instead she's thrown down this dead cat of an early general election."
