Andy Burnham is set to enter Downing Street as Prime Minister facing what sources describe as an "extraordinary crisis of legitimacy." Exclusive polling for the Daily Mail suggests that many voters outside of his Manchester base question his right to hold the office, especially after he ascended to power without a national mandate.
Upon taking office, Burnham plans to address the cost-of-living crisis, with announcements expected in the coming days regarding energy bill relief and reduced bus fares. However, the survey indicates a challenging path to national acceptance for the former Mayor of Greater Manchester.
In England's South East, only 24 percent of respondents believe Burnham's recent return to Parliament and subsequent rise to Prime Minister have been legitimate, while 40 percent stated the opposite. In the South West, 42 percent hold the view that he attained the position through illegitimate means. Even in the East Midlands, a mere 21 percent believe he has the legitimate right to lead the country.
Public Opinion on Election Timing
The Survation poll, which surveyed 2,060 adults, found that 51 percent of people across the UK believe Burnham should hold a general election this year, with 31 percent disagreeing. The remaining 18 percent were undecided.
Support for Burnham's leadership appears concentrated, with limited backing reported outside of London and the North West. Only four regions expressed support for the manner in which he replaced Sir Keir Starmer. Concerns exist that Burnham may implement policies favoring the North, potentially through increased taxes on middle-class southerners, as four in ten respondents indicated they do not believe he will govern in the interest of the country as a whole.
Burnham's ascent follows a period of political upheaval, marking Britain's seventh leader in a decade. His ascension was engineered as a Labour "coronation," meaning he did not formally present his national plans during an election campaign. He did not stand on Labour's manifesto in the last general election and only recently secured his Makerfield seat. The 25,000 votes from that by-election represent a small fraction of the national electorate, leading to him being characterized as a "messiah without a mandate."
Former Conservative minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg commented on the situation, stating that the new Prime Minister would likely face public backlash if he does not call an election. "How can he carry on without a mandate?" Rees-Mogg questioned. "Nobody voted for him. We need to move to a situation where a new leader has to have a general election."
However, Burnham is expected to use his inaugural speech to argue against an early election. He is anticipated to emphasize the need for "stable and responsible politics" and a period of "reflection and resolution" to honestly address the nation's challenges, acknowledging the rapid succession of leaders in recent years.
Burnham's ally, Tracy Brabin, the Mayor of West Yorkshire, reportedly stated that his agenda involves "taking power from the South." The poll findings suggest widespread unease about the imposition of Burnham's regional political approach nationwide. More than a third of Britons (35 percent) consider his rapid rise illegitimate, a figure slightly higher than the 34 percent who believe he has a right to the position.
Outside of London and the North West, only voters in the East of England and Northern Ireland were found to view Burnham's accession as legitimate. Damian Lyons Lowe, chief executive of Survation, characterized Burnham's entry into Number 10 as that of a "Prime Minister who divides the country."
He added that Burnham's primary challenge is "reach – turning an unusually strong regional platform into comparable support nationally – with half the country saying he should call an early general election."
Sir Keir Starmer is set to step down as Prime Minister today after two years in office.
