Labour Surges Ahead in Latest Poll as Burnham Takes Helm
Prime Minister Andy Burnham's early policy announcements reshape political landscape, Reform UK faces scrutiny.
Image: Eddie Pollard / AI
Sarah Connor
Labour has climbed to 28% in a new poll, surpassing Nigel Farage's Reform party, which now stands at 24%.
The Conservatives hold steady at 22% in recent polling, while the Liberal Democrats have climbed to 12%. The Green Party has seen a drop to 8%.
These shifts emerged from interviews with over 2,000 individuals, conducted between July 24 and 27, providing a direct comparison to a previous survey from July 20 to 22.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham, appointed just a week ago, has wasted no time in implementing key policy changes. He secured his position after winning a by-election in Makerfield on June 18.
Burnham moved swiftly to axe VAT from electricity bills, capped bus fares outside London at £2, and reduced business rates for pubs.
The Prime Minister convened a meeting of the National Economic Council in Manchester. Discussions focused on the devolution of power, a central tenet of his agenda.
Burnham explicitly ruled out 'crude cuts' to benefits, a position he articulated in a recent interview. This signals a clear direction for his administration's social policy.
It’s only been a week since he entered office, but it’s clear that momentum is on the Prime Minister’s side.
Luke Tryl observed, "It’s only been a week since he entered office, but it’s clear that momentum is on the Prime Minister’s side." Tryl further stated, "After a jam-packed week of high-profile policy announcements and media appearances, the Labour Party has surged in our weekly poll."
This Labour surge coincides with negative headlines plaguing Reform UK. Nigel Farage's party faces questions regarding undeclared gifts, donations, and an adviser with a criminal past.
George Cottrell, an aide to Farage and a convicted fraudster, reportedly provided funding for Farage's operations. This connection has drawn significant public and media attention.
The Metropolitan Police are investigating two donations, each £250,000, made to Reform UK by Britain Means Business. These financial transactions are under official scrutiny.
The same poll shows Reform UK with 24% voter intention, marking a 2-percentage-point drop. This suggests a direct impact from the recent controversies.
Luke Tryl noted, "And with both Reform and the Green Party dropping to their lowest vote share in months, it seems that this early focus on the cost of living has appealed to voters that Labour has lost across left and right." The SNP polled at 2% UK-wide.
An estimate from Electoral Calculus indicates that if these results were replicated in a general election, Labour would emerge as the largest party. They would fall approximately 25 seats short of an outright majority.
Prime Minister Burnham affirmed unwavering UK support for Ukraine. This declaration preceded a crucial meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky.
He expects to allocate billions more in public money to boost England’s regions. This ambitious spending plan underpins his vision for national development.
This significant investment may necessitate hiking taxes on the better off. A new property levy, potentially hitting London hardest, remains a strong possibility.
Additional revenue could then reduce taxes for the less well off. Raising the income tax threshold represents one potential mechanism for this adjustment.
Burnham faces the challenge of securing tens of billions of pounds in an autumn Budget. These funds are critical for meeting defence spending commitments and financing his blueprint for Britain.