Why MPs keep talking about an early election despite Burnham's denials

Wander through Parliament at the moment, and there is one issue many MPs want to discuss: is there going to be an early general election? Prime Minister Andy Burnham has nearly three years to go before he has to call an election and he has repeatedly and categorically ruled out going to the country early. But the discussion persists - and many think it is a real possibility. After Wednesday's Budget, that talk has only increased. As one former Labour minister puts it: "Why would you sprinkle round a few politically smart (albeit small) giveaways now but delay all the really tough and unpopular decisions on welfare and defence to an autumn spending review if you weren't creating a window for a spring election?" Others have also suggested to the BBC that Chancellor John Healey's plans felt like a pre-election programme. They argue the Budget contained voter-friendly measures on the cost of living, such as £100 help for many with energy bills and extending VAT cuts on electricity bills. Young voters are to be offered help on to the housing ladder, through the Your First Home scheme. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has questioned why some-voter friendly measures announced . Could it be, she suggests, that the prime minister plans to go to the country before these measures run out? (The counter-argument to this is that household energy pressures are less severe in the summer.) Some MPs also point out the prime minister is popular at the moment and Labour is leading in most polls. Reform, who had led the polls for some time, have had a difficult few months. Will things ever look better for Burnham, they ask. Andy Burnham arrives to vote in July's Greater Manchester mayoral elections Then there are the difficult spending decisions faced . How to find the money to fund an increase in defence spending? How to bring down the welfare bill? How to cut departmental spending to make the books add up? "He is delaying all of the bad stuff until after a poll," reckons one Conservative MP. The Liberal Democrats have claimed there is a 30% chance of a general election on 10 December. The party has been put on a "snap election footing". Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has said he thinks there could be a general election in May. It is worth pointing out predictions of an early election are coming MPs, some of whom might be keen to cause a bit of trouble.