Voters Skeptical of Andy Burnham Governing for All of UK, Poll Suggests

A recent survey suggests that only a quarter of voters believe Andy Burnham would govern in the interests of the entire country. The poll, conducted by YouGov, found that a larger percentage of respondents expect him to govern primarily for regions like the North of England. This comes as Burnham, who has been referred to as the 'King of the North,' has spoken of establishing a "No 10 North" to decentralize power.

According to the YouGov poll of 4,473 adults on June 30, just 23 percent of voters stated they believed Burnham would govern in the interests of the whole country. Conversely, 27 percent anticipated he would govern mainly for the North of England and similar regions. Conservative and Reform UK voters were the least likely to express confidence in his ability to govern nationally, with only 11 percent and 8 percent, respectively, holding this view.

Four percent of respondents suggested he would favor London and the South East, while 35 percent indicated they were unsure. A regional divide in perceptions was also evident. Northerners were more likely to believe he would govern for the whole country (32 percent) compared to those who thought he would favor the North (13 percent). In contrast, southerners were more inclined to expect him to favor the North, with 36 percent holding this view compared to 18 percent who thought he would govern nationally.

The findings could pose a challenge for Burnham's potential leadership, particularly in uniting the country. His proposal to relocate part of the Prime Minister's Office to Manchester, aimed at what he calls 'rewiring Britain' and achieving the 'biggest rebalancing of power our country has seen,' has drawn attention. Allies have even suggested he might work from Manchester regularly.

Not all within his political sphere share the same view on regional focus. Wes Streeting, who has pledged support to Burnham, has previously voiced reservations about an overt North-South divide narrative. Streeting argued that feelings of being left behind are not exclusive to the North, citing examples from areas like the estuary towns of Kent and regions in Cornwall and Devon. He suggested that these areas also experience resentment towards London and national inequality.