A majority of British adults believe that incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham should call a general election within his first year in office, according to a recent Savanta poll. The survey found that 61 percent of respondents think Burnham should hold a national vote within 12 months of taking office, aiming to secure his own mandate from the public.
Less than one in five, or 17 percent, of those polled disagreed with the idea of an early election. The question of Burnham's mandate has been raised due to his ascension to the prime ministership without a public vote, and with limited public detail regarding his policy proposals. Burnham, formerly the Mayor of Greater Manchester, has made only one speech in the House of Commons since returning to Parliament as the MP for Makerfield.
He is scheduled to replace Keir Starmer as Prime Minister on July 20, having secured the support of 94 percent of Labour MPs, but without a vote from the broader party membership. His recent public engagements have included a light-hearted discussion with former footballer Gary Lineker, where he reportedly spoke in general terms about his plans. He also concluded a major speech last month without taking media questions, opting instead for select interactions on Reddit.
The Savanta poll, commissioned by the Institute of Research and Reforms (IRR) International, also explored public perceptions of Burnham's readiness for the role. Approximately 46 percent of respondents felt his experience as Greater Manchester mayor was insufficient for governing the country effectively. Conversely, 21 percent disagreed, while 26 percent remained neutral.
However, there is strong public backing for Burnham's commitment to greater devolution. Seventy-one percent of those surveyed agreed that regions across England should possess more authority over areas like transport, housing, and skills, mirroring the powers held by Greater Manchester. A similar 69 percent believe that too many economic decisions impacting local communities are made centrally in Westminster.
Burnham has also pledged to establish a 'No10 North' by decentralizing some of his Downing Street operations to Manchester. The poll indicated that two-thirds of respondents (67 percent) support the idea of locating more government departments and public bodies outside of London.
Ali Rehman Malik, Chairman of IRR International, stated that the polling results suggest the public desires a government that feels more connected to its constituents. He added that rebuilding trust in politics may depend on giving communities a greater say in decisions that affect their lives and on leaders understanding the specific challenges faced by their communities.
The Savanta survey was conducted online among 2,278 UK adults between July 3 and July 6. The article does not include any images.