Reform UK’s Zia Yusuf has echoed Nigel Farage’s call for a general election, claiming the prime minister-in-waiting Andy Burnham is being “foisted” on the public. Mr Yusuf, Reform’s home affairs spokesperson, said if the newly-elected MP for Makerfield is a “decent man”, then he will “put his case to the British people” and call a general election.

Speaking on the BBC’s Question Time, Mr Yusuf said: “I just can’t believe we’re back here again. The Tories gave us five prime ministers in six years, this is again a situation where we have a career politician, who’s not had a proper job in his entire life, foisted on the people of Britain as prime minister without them having any say on it.” He added: “.03% of the British public have voted for Andy Burnham.”

Mr Yusuf was debating whether Mr Burnham is the ‘saviour of Labour and the country’ alongside a panel that included Labour chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee Emily Thornberry and Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake.

The key Reform figure went on to ask the audience in Kettering to put their hands up if they could see Mr Burnham’s vision for the UK.

Around a dozen, of the roughly 90 people in the audience, raised a hand.

Mr Yusuf continued: “Here’s what we know about Andy Burnham, for sure. He has already become the king of U-turn and he hasn’t even become prime minister yet.”

He added: “Whatever your politics are, I think one of the reasons we’ve had this endless conga line of clownish prime ministers in this country, that have been unable to govern for the British people, is because you need a mandate.

“Now you’ve seen all of this nonsense with Shabana Mahmood and Mike Tapp tweet-waring against each other, not a single Labour minister right now is focused on what matters which is governing for the British people.

“If Andy Burnham was a decent man, and maybe he is, then he would put his case to the British people, draft a manifesto and call a general election.”

The former Greater Manchester mayor returned to Westminster on Monday and could become PM as soon as July 20 if he remains the only candidate to succeed Sir Keir Starmer.

If no other candidates step forward, he is expected to be formally declared Labour leader at a special conference on July 17, the day after nominations for the position close.

But it is understood he would not become prime minister immediately, with the formal handover taking place on the next working day, July 20, in line with the party’s previous practice.