Polling suggests Andy Burnham is more popular with young people than Green leader Zack Polanski, yet the Greens would receive more of their votes than Labour if an election were held now. The contrast points to a gap between Burnham’s personal appeal and young voters’ views of the government and their party choice.

In an Ipsos survey of British adults born from 1997 to 2012, 39 per cent were satisfied with Burnham and 33 per cent with Polanski; 68 per cent were dissatisfied with the government. Asked how they would vote, 33 per cent chose the Greens and 28 per cent Labour, compared with 19 per cent and 41 per cent respectively at the 2024 general election. Cost of living and inflation were the leading concerns for young people (49 per cent), followed by the NHS (46 per cent) and housing (39 per cent).