Andy Burnham has ruled out calling an early general election, despite not even being in parliament when Labour took power in 2024. There does not have to be another national vote until 2029. Rob Powell looks at whether Andy Burnham can lead the country without a mandate from the public.

@robpowellnews We know he can. We all learned about the fixed term parliament act when the Tories were burning through 5 leaders in 10 years.

@robpowellnews Please try and educate rather than mislead your viewers MPs decide who leads them and who is PM, nobody else A mandate is a list of premises/intentions and (t the next Election) Voters can gauge a ruling parties performance - a mandate does not even mean anything is mandatory

@robpowellnews Thoughts with Farage, Tice and crypto backers 🤗

@robpowellnews Sky have shown they are anti Burnham they are peddling anti news and should have their license revoked this is constant attacks by lame ass so called journalist that have never been in office but criticism of other with no experience shows they couldn't get a real job

@robpowellnews #generalelection needed now

@robpowellnews Whether he was in parliament in 2024 or not is irrelevant. He doesn't need a personal mandate as long as he commands a majority of the HoC this isn't America. Polling & the views of opposition parties are irrelevant.

@robpowellnews The public vote for a party representative, their MP. PM is appointed, hasn’t always been an MP, by recent tradition/convention it has been leader of the largest party in HoC. Criteria is their “ability to form and command” the Monarch’s government.

@robpowellnews question posed by sky news: do the public want an early election

@robpowellnews He may have "ruled out" an early election, but he will call one nevertheless within 12 months.

@robpowellnews The real issue is governing the country (to the benefit of its general population), not planning a further general election.

@robpowellnews No shit Sherlock. Journalists...

@robpowellnews Imagine if he actually fixes politics and the country and British people thrive. So far, buses are still mainly empty.

@robpowellnews Even if it is the American kind of democracy, a general election wouldn't be called because a President has resigned. The idea that a general election be called is dumb.

@robpowellnews rob, notice that Sky still haven't covered the topic of Richard Tice being under a new police investigation but every other broadcaster covered it a couple of days ago? How come? PS, refresher on you on Rayner & GMP when she wasn't in Govt Also see line on double 'standards'

@robpowellnews Scared 😱

@robpowellnews The Tories did countless times. What’s changed?

@robpowellnews He needs to clear off tax and immigration he’s not got a clue

@robpowellnews The UK is an oligarchy masquerading as a democracy.

@robpowellnews On its current course, I cannot imagine the state the UK will be in by 2029.

@robpowellnews Netanyahu orchestrated October 7th. When will this govt stop enabling genocide?

@robpowellnews he might have to .. on a different manifesto sooner

@robpowellnews No one’s gonna vote Tory again after this bunch danced on people’s graves

@robpowellnews @andyburnham fix by reforming your @gmpolice 🐝 then we can talk about who will run 🪑 our Country 🇬🇧 👇

@robpowellnews

@robpowellnews As soon as he feels the opinion polls are with him he'll call an election alright ...

@robpowellnews He'll call it early. Why throw away a big majority? Because with half that majority being complete fruitcakes, he may gamble and purposefully get rid of the massive awkward squad occupying the back benches and at the same time holding a gun to his head. It would be a gamble.

@robpowellnews He questioned when the Conservatives changed leader without a GE. At least they were standing MP’s so were always potential candidates. He wasn’t. If he doesn’t call a GE we all know he’s a hypocrite and can’t be trusted.

@robpowellnews Mr U turn.

@robpowellnews Good calling a general election after changing the prime minister only happens when Labour are not in power

@robpowellnews Prime ministers aren't directly elected

@robpowellnews I see you are pushing this as hard as you did when the Tories were bringing me PMs in every other month Oh wait... You didn't say a word then, did you...? Strange that... 🤔🤡🖕😡🤬

@robpowellnews rob powell wore a tie twice in about a year and that is because he was presenting and told too

@robpowellnews That’s there opinion ask the public if it’s what they want they work for the people not the other way around

@robpowellnews I personally think he is making a good start and really in touch with what our UK needs to recover.