Camilla Tominey accuses Labour minister of ‘grotesque hypocrisy’ as he bats away public outcry for General Election

Health Secretary James Murray was accused of “grotesque hypocrisy” after rejecting calls for a General Election amid Andy Burnham's expected rise to Number 10.

During a fiery exchange on GB News, presenter Camilla Tominey repeatedly challenged the Cabinet minister over Labour's refusal to seek a fresh mandate.

Camilla argued that Mr Burnham had “no mandate” to introduce major policy changes if, as is expected, he replaces outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

She cited reports that the Makerfield MP is mulling lowering the threshold for a mansion tax and aligning Capital Gains Tax with income tax as significant departures from Labour’s winning 2024 manifesto.

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“No one voted for this in 2024, did they? We should have a General Election if he's going to make these tax changes.

“We've now got a poll suggesting that 59 per cent of the public want a General Election," she said, adding: “This is meant to be a government of the people.”

However, Mr Murray rubbished the notion, insisting that Mr Burnham remained committed to Labour's election platform.

“Andy has said he stands behind the 2024 manifesto. We were all elected on that 2024 manifesto,” he replied.

“We have a parliamentary democracy. The Labour Party in Parliament is rallying behind Andy to be our next leader and Prime Minister.”

The Health Secretary also pointed to Mr Burnham's recent by-election triumph in Makerfield, describing it as “a resounding victory”.

“Remember, Reform won all of the wards in that constituency at the recent local elections.

“Yet Andy beat both Reform and Restore combined," Mr Murray said, arguing it was “a strong indication of the strength of him”.

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Camilla immediately pushed back, quipping: “Makerfield does not maketh the Prime Minister.”

She argued that if Mr Burnham pursued policies outside Labour's manifesto, voters deserved another trip to the polls.

“He potentially wants to align CGT with income tax. If he makes tax changes, then he's changing the manifesto, and we should have a General Election, shouldn't we? Because he won't have a mandate for that.”

“Andy has made his position clear, and I'm not here to be a spokesperson for Andy,” Mr Murray hit back, denying to wade into a discussion on tax.

The Health Secretary also rejected claims that Labour’s situation was similar to that faced by the previous Conservative Government, which Mr Burnham was intensely critical of as Manchester Mayor.

He accused the Tory administration of “taking lumps out of each other” and “focusing inward rather than outwards to the country”.

“If Andy Burnham himself campaigned for a General Election in 2022, why aren't you doing the same now?”

“It's absolute grotesque hypocrisy.”

Mr Murray denied the accusation, insisting: “We live in a parliamentary democracy where all of us as MPs were elected on the 2024 manifesto.”

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