13 July 2026
Andy Burnham is set to take office as prime minister on 20 July.
Dr Miriam Sorace, expert in electoral behaviour, spoke to BBC Radio Berkshire (from 1.07.00) about what to expect from the former Manchester mayor, and provides further insights below. For interviews, contact the University of Reading Press Office on 0118 378 5757 or pressoffice@reading.ac.uk.
Dr Miriam Sorace, Associate Professor in Comparative Politics, University of Reading, said: “Andy Burnham is a political insider and a skilled political operator. His appeal chiefly comes from the way he has positioned himself as a voice against Westminster during the Covid-19 crisis, and from his natural authenticity. Voters tend to value leaders they feel they can trust, and Burnham has worked hard to cultivate that down-to-earth image.
“What is particularly striking about Burnham is his political antenna. He has a strong sense of what cuts through with the public. Most of his current pledges, for example, have high levels of support among the UK public.
“A Burnham government would likely put devolution high on the agenda. He has also signalled support for public ownership of water and energy, a major council housebuilding programme, and wider housing reform.
“Compared with the current government, he’d likely move Labour left on some economic questions. But Burnham is also trying to broaden his appeal, including to small business owners, for example, through proposals to cut business rates.
“His style has a populist undertone, especially in the emphasis on challenging London-based elites, and on hyper-responsiveness to the public mood. At times, that responsiveness can come at the expense of a clear and stable political line. But he is not a populist in the stronger sense of seeking to weaken liberal democratic institutions
“Burnham should not be mistaken for a political messiah. He would enter office with negative approval ratings, much closer to the position faced by Rishi Sunak or Liz Truss than to the honeymoon ratings enjoyed by David Cameron or Theresa May in the pre-Brexit era. That era of automatic goodwill for new prime ministers is gone. If he cannot deliver quickly, he could also find himself facing serious pressure on his leadership within a very short period of time.”
Dr Miriam Sorace is an Associate Professor in Comparative Politics at the University of Reading.
Her areas of research interest are electoral behaviour, public opinion, political campaigns and European politics.
Read more: Dr Miriam Sorace
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