Andy Burnham’s Approval Rating Is Already Higher Than Keir Starmer’s Ever Was

Andy Burnham’s approval rating is already higher than his predecessor Keir Starmer’s ever was, less than one week into the job.

The new prime minister has a net approval rating of +13, according to research agency More in Common, having enjoyed a significant boost since he got the top job on Monday.

At the end of June, the Makerfield MP and PM-in-waiting’s rating was on +5.

More in Common put Starmer’s rating during his first three weeks in the job at +11, before it took a sharp downward turn.

Less than two months after his landslide win in the July 2024 general election, the ex-PM’s approval rating had sunk to -8 – and never recovered.

Starmer’s rating continued on a downward trend throughout his premiership, falling to -38 by October 2024 and hitting its lowest point of -51 by November 2025.

It was -42 by the time he officially handed the keys over to Burnham this week.

The new prime minister is now the most popular party leader, comfortably beating the Tories’ Kemi Badenoch who sits on +3 and the Lib Dems’ Ed Davey on -5.

Reform’s Nigel Farage and the Greens’ Zack Polanski trail behind on -22.

The rating comes after a series of announcements from Burnham’s government aimed at reducing the cost of living.

He has slashed business rates for the hospitality sector already, promising to save pubs, clubs and live music venues £1,100 a year.

Burnham has also promised to cap bus fares at £2 and to cut VAT from electricity bills to reduce £45 from the energy price cap.

Labour has also wiped out Reform UK’s lead in the polls as its support has increased by eight points in a month.

Research from DeltaPoll put both parties on 28%, ahead of the Tories who languish behind on 18%.

It’s a significant change compared to a month ago when Labour were on just 20%, fully 8 points behind Farage’s party.

While the Labour leadership has passed from Starmer to Burnham in that time, Farage has also faced growing scrutiny over his finances – particularly the £5 million gift he received from a crypto billionaire which he failed to declare to parliament.

He is now fighting a by-election which he triggered in his Clacton constituency, meaning a parliamentary probe into the £5m lump sum has been paused.

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