My latest focus groups took place in Wallsend, Norwich and Lowestoft, where recently disgruntled 2024 Labour voters – and some opponents – told us what they made of Andy Burnham’s first days as prime minister.
He appears a normal person
Many people’s first impressions were good. While often noting that it was very early days and they knew little about him, participants talked about his apparently down-to-earth persona, in contrast with recent holders of the office: “He appears a normal person. I know he’s been to Cambridge and stuff like that, but you can be a normal person even if you’re well educated;” “There’s a warmth about him that we haven’t had for a while. Maybe it’s the up north thing. He’s a millionaire who’s been to Cambridge, but he still comes across as a fairly decent chap;” “I do feel there’s a tad more common sense within him. Previous prime ministers seemed to have that toffee nosed element to them, where there seems to be slightly more normality with him;” “He’s not your run-of-the-mill posh boy. It’s nice to have someone called Andy and he’s quite pretty looking”.
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