Burnham tries to win back business as he faces stark warnings and scrutiny over Everton hospitality

From the Newshound archive · first published 25 September 2026.

Andy Burnham is under mounting pressure to prove he stands with business and ordinary voters, as industry figures question whether his outreach is genuine and a Conservative MP issues a stark warning over his government's direction. Burnham faces growing scrutiny over £677 worth of directors' lounge tickets accepted from Everton FC, echoing the hospitality controversy that surrounded his predecessor, while two major MRP polls — one by YouGov with a 17,000-person sample, one by Survation with 8,000 — suggest Labour would win most seats but fall well short of a majority, making any snap election unlikely.

Johnny Mercer has delivered a sharp warning to Burnham's government on the eve of its first meeting with President Trump at the UN General Assembly in New York next week.

Burnham also faces scrutiny over £677 worth of directors' lounge tickets accepted from Everton FC in August, echoing the hospitality row that dogged his predecessor Sir Keir Starmer.

Business leaders are watching Burnham's conference speech closely for signs he is serious about rebuilding trust with the private sector after months of uncertainty.