He was later asked by East Midlands political editor Peter Saull if there would be a general election next May, alongside council elections in the area.
The PM replied “no” before adding: “Not having a general election.”
Burnham also said he wants to use the conference to say more about “the direction I want to take the country in”, adding: “The focus is on that, helping people with the cost of living, helping businesses with the cost of running a business.
“These have got to be the priorities right now, rather than throwing the country into a backward-looking process where we’re arguing again amongst ourselves.”
Burnham said he wanted to ensure people are “feeling a bit of hope in their lives again”, adding: “That’s what I’m trying to do, and I hope to take it further in the coming period, rather than putting people back into an election cycle.”
The prime minister was also asked about the number of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats.
It comes after 781 people were recorded arriving in 10 boats on Wednesday, the highest total for a single day so far this year.
Burnham said his goal was that he didn’t “want to see any crossings at all”.
He declined to put a timescale on the ambition, but said his government would “not stop” working until crossings went “right down”.
He argued that Brexit had hampered the UK’s ability to stop the arrivals, saying it had led to a “loss of collaboration with neighbours”.