Voters verdict on Andy Burnham’s first 100 days show that good vibes are not enough
A YouGov poll suggests Andy Burnham has yet to win over voters as he approaches his 100th day as prime minister. His ratings are not as poor as Keir Starmer’s, but the article argues that a muted response is a warning: the early months are usually the easiest, while economic pressures and other challenges are likely to grow.
Only 35 per cent of respondents had expected Burnham to do well, and 12 per cent of all those asked said he had disappointed them; 37 per cent had expected disappointment, with nearly two thirds of that group saying their view was confirmed. The article says Burnham’s ambitious promises on growth and social care remain largely untested, and notes that he has not held a full press conference. It argues that measures such as the £2 bus fare cap and removing VAT from energy bills have not yet shown voters he can deliver broader change.
In short
- Burnham’s first 100 days have drawn a lukewarm verdict.
- 12 per cent of respondents said he had disappointed them.
- The article says voters want evidence that his promises can be delivered.
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The case for
The poll suggests Burnham has not yet persuaded many voters that his promises will translate into results, and early public confidence matters when leaders face harder economic conditions ahead. Measures such as the bus fare cap and energy-bill changes may offer limited reassurance until voters see broader progress, while the lack of a full press conference may make it harder to judge his plans.
The case against
A first 100 days is too short to assess ambitious goals such as economic growth and social care, whose effects take time to emerge. The figures also show that Burnham’s ratings are better than Starmer’s, and that many respondents who expected him to disappoint simply had their prior view confirmed; this may reflect entrenched expectations more than a fair assessment of what he can deliver.