Labour election fever mounts after Budget despite Burnham's denials - with ex-Cabinet minister admitting he is preparing a campaign 'just in case'

Published: 06:29 EDT, 29 October 2026 | Updated: 06:47 EDT, 29 October 2026 Andy Burnham has failed to dampen speculation he will call an early election with even a former Labour Cabinet minister getting ready for a vote within months.The Prime Minister used an interview after the Budget yesterday to rule out holding an election within the next 12 months. It came against a backdrop of fevered speculation that he could go to the country at any time between December and May.The PM has pushed a major plank of his plans for government back to after the next election. This means it potentially will double as a referendum on issues like undoing Brexit, bringing in a new death tax to create a National Care Service and making massive changes to the way elections work.Today Darren Jones, who was chief secretary to ex-PM Sir Keir Starmer, revealed he is getting ready despite Mr Burnham's denials.'Andy Burnham has said repeatedly, and again this week, there is not going to be an election in the next 12 months,' Mr Jones told Sky's Electoral Dysfunction podcast.'Interesting that he put a timescale on it, 12 months, but he has been very clear there is not going to be one.'I though, just at a constituency level, am going to be ready in case that changes.' The Prime Minister used an interview after the Budget yesterday to rule out holding an election within the next 12 months Today Darren Jones, who was chief secretary to ex-PM Sir Keir Starmer, revealed he is getting ready despite Mr Burnham's denialsHe added: 'I don't want an early election and in the end I don't think they are going to have one. 'I have asked repeatedly and I have been told ''no, there is no early election'', but it is always better to be prepared.'There has been speculation that Mr Burnham could call an early election to consolidate his position since he ousted Sir Keir Starmer and entered Downing Street in the summer.The Prime Minister was asked if he would call an election in the next year as he visited a community centre in central London.He said: 'I don't know how many times I've done this now, but yes, I can rule out calling a general election in the next 12 months.'I have said repeatedly since coming into this job, I'm not thinking about myself.'I'm not thinking about my own party and its prospects.'I am thinking about people, and I'm thinking about what I can do to help them to have that care for people, which I spoke about on my first day in Downing Street.'Mr Burnham added that he was 'leading from the front' and 'putting Britain on a different path'.He said: 'We've got a 10-year plan to come, and that will inform the spending review next year.'These are my priorities, not looking at our own internal party political advantage.'However, the dullness of yesterday's Budget prompted speculation that many difficult issues are being kicked down the road to bolster Labour's poll lead.After John Healey addressed the Commons yesterday, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: 'We all know why the Chancellor has delayed until tomorrow difficult decisions that he should have taken today. 'It is because the Prime Minister wants to keep the option of an early general election open, putting his party's interests before the country's.'Nigel Farage, speaking at a press conference in Westminster, said that the Budget 'was a retail Budget aimed at an early general election'.The Reform UK leader added: 'It doesn't overall do very much, but it attempts to please a very large number of people.'The Liberal Democrats, meanwhile, are reportedly planning for an election on December 10 this year.