Burnham's political stock falls as Labour's troubles deepen

Andy Burnham has long occupied a distinctive place within Labour politics. A former cabinet minister, twice a leadership contender and now Mayor of Greater Manchester, he has often been regarded as one of the party's most effective communicators and a figure capable of appealing beyond Labour's traditional base.

Yet new polling suggests his political standing has weakened significantly as Labour's internal difficulties continue to dominate the national conversation.

Research conducted by YouGov shows Burnham now has a net favourability rating of minus 11, with 30 per cent of Britons expressing a favourable opinion of him and 41 per cent holding an unfavourable view. The figures represent a marked decline from earlier in the year, when Burnham's ratings remained comfortably in positive territory.

The timing is particularly notable. Burnham's fall in popularity has coincided with one of the most turbulent periods of Sir Keir Starmer's premiership, as Labour has grappled with ministerial resignations, growing unrest among MPs and renewed speculation about the party's direction.

For a politician widely viewed as a potential future leadership contender, the figures are an unwelcome development.

The decline appears to have begun in mid-May, as Labour's internal disputes increasingly spilled into public view. While Burnham has sought to maintain some distance from Westminster politics during his tenure in Greater Manchester, voters appear to be viewing senior Labour figures through the prism of the party's broader difficulties.

The findings suggest that even politicians with strong personal brands are not immune from the consequences of prolonged political instability.

Perhaps more concerning for Labour is that Burnham is not alone. The polling indicates that Wes Streeting has suffered an even sharper deterioration in public standing. Once regarded as one of the party's rising stars, the former Health Secretary is now viewed unfavourably by half of the public, while only 12 per cent hold a positive opinion of him.

Streeting's decline is particularly striking because it predates some of Labour's most recent difficulties. His reputation was already under pressure before his resignation, but the latest figures suggest that public attitudes have hardened further in the weeks since.

Taken together, the polling points to a broader challenge confronting Labour. While political commentators often focus on party ratings and electoral prospects, leadership politics is ultimately about individuals. When voters begin to lose confidence in the personalities associated with a government, rebuilding trust can prove difficult.

That is not to suggest Burnham's political prospects are in serious jeopardy. He remains one of the most recognisable figures in British politics outside Westminster and retains considerable support among Labour members and activists. His expected return to Parliament through the Makerfield by-election would also restore him to the national stage.

Nevertheless, the figures offer a reminder that popularity can be remarkably fragile.

Political reputations are often built over years and damaged in a matter of weeks. Burnham's appeal has historically rested on his ability to present himself as a pragmatic and independent-minded politician, somewhat removed from Westminster's tribal battles. The latest polling suggests voters may increasingly see him as part of Labour's wider story rather than apart from it.

For Labour, that may be the most significant finding of all. Political turbulence is no longer confined to the government itself. It is beginning to affect some of the figures once viewed as potential solutions to the party's problems.

Source: YouGov favourability polling conducted June 2026.