Voters brand Andy Burnham's first 100 days in No 10 'unremarkable' while 51% disapprove of his Labour government

From the Newshound archive · first published 27 October 2026.

Andy Burnham marks 100 days as Prime Minister having cut VAT on domestic electricity bills, capped bus fares and pledged to end rough sleeping by Christmas — but polls show 51% of Britons disapprove of his Labour government against just 26% who approve. His net favourability rating has slid from a peak of +13 in August to +4, even as he remains the only party leader in positive territory. Nigel Farage has seized on the milestone to put a sharp question to Burnham over his record, while street interviews in Newcastle produced a stream of damning verdicts from the public.

Burnham is also taking an axe to the triple lock pensions guarantee and reopening the Brexit debate, alarming voters who expected a clean break.

Newcastle residents were blunt: 'He's no better than Starmer' and 'the difference between this government and the last is the difference between Pepsi and Coke.'

Quentin Letts dismissed Burnham's policy agenda as 'as skimpy as his shorts', dubbing him the 'Daytime TV Prime Minister' after 100 days of watching him up close.