Public back Burnham over Kemi and Nigel to do good job as PM, poll shows
The British public thinks Andy Burnham will make a better Prime Minister than Kemi Badenoch or Nigel Farage, a new poll has found.
The British public thinks Andy Burnham will make a better Prime Minister than Kemi Badenoch or Nigel Farage, a new poll has found.
But the new figures also show danger could lie ahead for the Labour heir apparent, as Brits would prefer that he face a contest for the party leadership as opposed to the more likely unopposed coronation.
Polling by Ipsos revealed 35% thought Burnham would do a good job as PM, compared to 24% who believed he would do a bad job.
He was the only politician in the survey where more people had confidence than lacked it. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch was backed by 29%, while 37% said she would do badly in the role.
Farage, the leader of Reform UK, had most people saying he would do a bad job – 53%, the worst rating of the top politicians – while 27% believed he would make a good PM.
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey and the Green Party’s Zack Polanski also scored lower than Burnham.
Burnham declared earlier this week he would run for Prime Minister after Sir Keir Starmer stepped down from the position earlier this week.
The former Mayor of Greater Manchester’s path to Downing Street appeared clearer this morning, as Starmer loyalist Darren Jones said he would not run against him.
There had been speculation the current Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister could join a contest on behalf of those irked that his boss had been forced from office.
But Jones told Sky News this morning he had a ‘reassuring conversation’ with Burnham about his economic plans that convinced him not to stand.
All eyes are now on former Armed Forces Minister Al Carns, who has not yet ruled out a crack at the top job – though few would expect him to beat the favourite.
Nevertheless, the Ipsos poll suggests many people would like someone to have a go, with 39% wanting a contest compared to 13% who would like a Burnham coronation.