As Sir Keir Starmer prepares to vacate Downing Street on 20 July, a stark majority of Britons are calling for Andy Burnham's incoming government to seek a fresh mandate through an immediate general election. A recent poll by City AM and Freshwater Strategy reveals that 65% of voters believe the new Prime Minister should call a snap election, with just 29% thinking it unnecessary.
The pressure on Mr Burnham to respond to this public demand is likely to be intense, given his radical plans for devolution, including establishing a 'Number 10 in the North' and transferring powers to local councils. However, voters are still waiting for more details about his stance on key policy areas such as taxation, defence spending, and welfare reform.
Interestingly, Labour's own supporters are the only demographic who think an election is unnecessary, highlighting a possible disconnect between the party leadership and its grassroots members. The poll also shows that Reform UK remains ahead in the national polls, with 29% of voters backing the party, while Labour trails behind at 20%, closely followed by the Conservatives on 21%. The Liberal Democrats and Green Party both languish at 12%.
Despite his higher favourability ratings compared to other opposition leaders like Ed Davey and Nigel Farage, Mr Burnham's popularity appears not to have translated into significant gains for Labour in terms of overall support. Voters do seem to prefer him as Prime Minister over Ms Badenoch and Mr Farage, but only just - with 30% backing him, compared to 29% for Mr Farage and 28% for Ms Badenoch.
The pressure on Mr Burnham to secure a personal mandate through an election is likely to shape the early days of his administration. If he chooses not to call an election, he will face significant scrutiny over how his government's policies are implemented and whether they have democratic legitimacy. This public sentiment for accountability underscores the challenges ahead for Labour as it seeks to implement its proposed reforms.
Source: City AM/Freshwater Strategy