There are, though, plenty of arguments against a general election in the next year.Firstly, the prime minister has repeatedly ruled it out in interviews.On Wednesday, he said explicitly that there would not be an election in the next 12 months. Politicians can change their minds, but one veteran Tory concludes a change of heart, after emphatic denials, would be too damaging to "Brand Burnham".Next – despite the chancellor's giveaways on the cost of living – the overall economic outlook is "pretty grim", in the words of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).Real Household Disposable Income looks set to fall in the coming months.
Interest rates are predicted to go up. Nobody knows for sure what will happen next in the Middle East – and whether things could get worse before they get better.Burnham has pledged a rewiring of the British state.
He plans to set out a 10-year plan in the coming weeks. But without more detail, some wonder if voters will know enough to make a judgement.
On more than one occasion, Burnham has vowed to bring about the most significant change in British politics in four decades.One former Labour minister could not detect much in this week's Budget to that effect, saying: "It's not an end to 40 years of neoliberalism is it?"That message was echoed by another Labour MP: "It was too low key to be an election Budget.""It was a disappointment, a play it safe, keep everything ticking over Budget… crumbs for all," said another."No early general election after that Budget. We would be toast."