Andy Burnham has ruled out holding a snap general election in the next 12 months.
His remarks came shortly after chancellor John Healey unveiled the first Budget of the Burnham government and promised to give Brits “breathing space”.
However, the biggest financial announcement of the year has been criticised for not making any major decisions to change the UK’s economy.
It sparked speculation the PM is still considering calling an early election, despite repeatedly rejecting the idea.
Critics suggested Burnham might be avoiding making any big decisions until he’s free of the constraints of the 2024 manifesto – something which can only happen if voters go to the polls again.
But the prime minister told reporters: “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.”
He added: “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.”
The prime minister previously insisted the next national vote would not be until the current parliamentary term was up, in 2029.
He also rejected claims that Healey’s Budget was not bold, saying: “lt’s pretty bold to help 20 million households with their energy costs through a council tax cut this winter. It’s bold to lift 70,000 businesses out of business rates altogether.”
Burnham said that if you “add up” all the measures announced, “that is a significant amount of help that is coming people’s way in 2027”.
He also pointed out that the “pressures on finances coming from the situation in the Middle East” have left him and the government without “huge room for manoeuvre”.
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