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A Burnham bounce? Now another poll finds Labour have drawn LEVEL with Reform UK after party ditched Keir Starmer
A new opinion poll has found that Labour has drawn level with Reform UK, in what is being described as a possible "Burnham bounce" following the party's decision to remove Keir Starmer as leader and Prime Minister. The finding suggests that the leadership change, which saw Andy Burnham take over, may be improving Labour's standing with voters after a sustained period in which Reform UK had held a significant lead in the polls.
The shift comes as Burnham settles into his new role, including plans to spend time working from a Manchester office, and after he warned Cabinet colleagues that all policies must be clearly funded, shortly after announcing an £850 million energy bills support package without specifying how it would be paid for. The change in leadership has prompted mixed reactions, with some foreign media reportedly criticising the switch, while supporters point to the narrowing poll gap as an early sign of a recovery in Labour's fortunes.
In short
- New poll shows Labour has drawn level with Reform UK.
- Shift follows Labour's removal of Keir Starmer as leader.
- Andy Burnham now leads the party amid funding scrutiny of policies.
Explained simply
Labour is one of Britain's two main political parties and currently forms the government. Reform UK is a newer party that has recently gained significant public support, at times holding a strong lead over Labour in polls. Polls are surveys that measure which party the public believes would best govern the country.
Keir Starmer was Labour's leader and Prime Minister, but Labour has recently replaced him with Andy Burnham, a senior politician who previously served as mayor of Greater Manchester. This leadership change comes at a time when Reform UK had been ahead in polls, and observers are watching to see whether it affects Labour's public support.
A new poll showing Labour level with Reform UK is being viewed as a possible positive sign for Labour following the leadership change. Some have described this potential shift in support as a "Burnham bounce", suggesting the new leader might improve how voters view the party.
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