Andy Burnham has recorded the best favourability rating for a British prime minister in more than six years, according to new polling from YouGov.
Almost half of Britons, 46%, now have a favourable opinion of Burnham, while 33% view him unfavourably.
That leaves the Prime Minister with a net favourability score of +13.
YouGov says no prime minister has managed a better score on its political favourability tracker since May 2020, when Boris Johnson was still enjoying a surge in public support during the early stages of the Covid pandemic.
In fact, YouGov says that brief period under Johnson is the only time in the ten years it has been running the tracker that a serving prime minister has recorded a higher score than Burnham has now.
It is an unusually comfortable place for a British prime minister to find themselves.
Whether Burnham can stay there is another matter.
Burnham gets an early boost in Number 10
The change since last month is substantial.
YouGov’s first favourability poll of Burnham’s premiership, published in July, found 38% of people had a favourable opinion of him and 35% an unfavourable one.
His net score was therefore just +3.
A month later, his favourable rating has climbed eight points to 46%, while his unfavourable score has fallen slightly to 33%.
Burnham has spent his opening weeks in Downing Street moving quickly on issues including buses, devolution and the cost of living, while making a point of getting out of Westminster.
His government has extended the £2 bus fare cap through 2027, announced plans to remove time restrictions from disabled bus passes and backed the West Midlands taking public control of its bus network.
This week he also revealed that his new “No 10 North” operation in Manchester will take responsibility for economic growth away from the Treasury and lead work on tax devolution.
The strategy is giving voters plenty to judge him on.
So far, they appear to like what they’re seeing.
Farage’s numbers tell a very different story
The contrast with Nigel Farage is particularly striking.
Just 23% of Britons have a favourable opinion of the Reform UK leader, according to YouGov, compared with 67% who view him unfavourably.
That gives Farage a net rating of -44.
Farage remains a hugely influential figure with a committed political base, something demonstrated again by his comfortable victory in the recent Clacton by-election.
But the numbers show the difficulty he faces beyond that base.
A politician can command enormous attention, dominate political debate and still struggle to persuade the wider electorate that they actually like him.
Burnham currently has the opposite advantage.
His favourable rating is twice Farage’s, while far fewer voters have a negative opinion of him.
That matters if the political contest between Labour and Reform increasingly becomes framed around Burnham and Farage personally.
Badenoch improves too
There is some better news for Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch.
Her net favourability rating now stands at -16, with 31% of Britons viewing her favourably and 47% unfavourably.
That’s still underwater, but her personal ratings have improved considerably compared with some of the numbers she was recording earlier in her leadership.
Badenoch also remains significantly less unpopular than Farage.
For the Conservatives, who have spent much of the past year squeezed between Labour and Reform, that could prove useful if they can convince voters on the right to take another look at the party.
Green leader Zack Polanski has gone in the other direction.
Only 19% now view Polanski favourably, seven points lower than his peak in April.
Ed Davey remains relatively stable, with 26% holding a favourable opinion of the Liberal Democrat leader.
Burnham is comfortably ahead of all of them.
There is a catch for Burnham
Prime ministers tend to discover that popularity has a short shelf life.
Burnham has only been in Downing Street since July, meaning these numbers are being recorded before his government has had much time to accumulate the rows, broken promises and unpopular decisions that eventually weigh down almost every administration.
Boris Johnson’s 2020 rating provides a useful warning.
His popularity surged during the extraordinary opening stages of the pandemic before falling sharply as his government became engulfed in rows over its handling of Covid and, eventually, Partygate.
Burnham also inherited a Labour government rather than winning a general election as its leader.
He will eventually be judged on whether the early announcements coming from Downing Street make a noticeable difference to people’s lives.
There are already difficult decisions waiting for him.
The economy remains fragile, the government faces pressure over prisons and migration, and Burnham’s promises on public services and devolution will have to survive contact with the public finances.
But Labour would have struggled to imagine numbers like these only a few months ago.
Before Burnham entered Number 10, the party had been fighting Reform for the lead in national polling and Keir Starmer’s personal ratings had fallen deep into negative territory.
Burnham now finds himself in the unusual position of being a prime minister whom substantially more people like than dislike.
For the moment at least, the Burnham bounce is real.
Andy Burnham Records Best Popularity Rating for a Prime Minister in Six Years
Andy Burnham has recorded an unusually strong public popularity rating, becoming the most favourably viewed British prime minister in more than six years according to YouGov polling published in August 2026. The figures marked a notable change in the political mood surrounding Labour’s leadership, although questions remain over whether the prime minister can translate his personal popularity into lasting public confidence in the government.
The YouGov survey found that 46% of Britons held a favourable opinion of Burnham, while 33% viewed him unfavourably. This gave him a net favourability rating of plus 13, the highest recorded for a prime minister by YouGov’s tracker since Boris Johnson’s brief popularity surge during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic in May 2020. <Cite refs={[“turn437586search0”]}/>
The figures have attracted attention because they come at a time when the government faces difficult questions about immigration, public spending, the cost of living and Britain’s future relationship with Europe. Burnham’s personal ratings suggest that he has initially attracted a more positive response than his immediate predecessor, but the longer-term political significance will depend on whether voters believe his policies deliver tangible improvements.
A Significant Change in Public Opinion
The YouGov figures represented a substantial improvement compared with Burnham’s position before taking office. His favourable rating increased by 12 percentage points, while the proportion of people viewing him negatively fell by 10 points.
The change was particularly striking among voters who had previously been dissatisfied with Labour’s leadership. According to YouGov, 76% of people who voted Labour in the 2024 general election viewed Burnham favourably. Positive opinions also extended beyond Labour’s traditional electoral base: 68% of Liberal Democrat voters and 53% of Green voters held a favourable view of him.
Among Conservative voters, the favourable figure was 31%, while 15% of Reform UK voters viewed him positively. These differences demonstrate that Burnham’s appeal was not evenly distributed across the electorate. <Cite refs={[“turn437586search0”]}/>
A change in leadership can create a period of renewed interest and optimism. Voters may respond positively to a different communication style, a new set of priorities or the prospect of a break with earlier decisions. However, an initial improvement in personal ratings does not necessarily indicate that people agree with every policy a leader proposes.
The key test will be whether this more favourable impression survives difficult decisions, economic pressures and the inevitable disagreements that accompany government.
The Conference Speech and Labour’s Political Direction
Burnham’s rise in popularity has coincided with a period of renewed debate about Labour’s political direction. His party conference speech in late September drew attention to a number of policy questions, including public services, economic management and Britain’s relationship with the European Union.
Polling reported after the conference suggested that the speech had helped Labour improve its standing. The Independent reported on 6 October that a YouGov voting-intention poll placed Labour five points ahead of Reform UK, with the party recording its strongest level in that poll since early 2025. Other polling organisations have produced different figures, illustrating why individual surveys should not be treated as a definitive picture of public opinion. <Cite refs={[“turn437586search4″,”turn437586search6”]}/>
The conference also provided Burnham with an opportunity to present a broader vision for Labour. His challenge is to show how proposed changes would affect everyday life, especially for people concerned about wages, household bills, access to healthcare and the future of public services.
Public speeches can shape political coverage, but their lasting value depends on whether the government can turn broad ambitions into credible plans. Voters may welcome a leader who appears confident and decisive, yet they will also judge whether policies are affordable, practical and consistent with the promises made.
Immigration Remains a Major Test
Despite Burnham’s positive personal ratings in August, immigration remains one of the most contentious issues facing his government.
Reform UK has repeatedly criticised the handling of small-boat crossings, asylum accommodation and the cost of supporting people while their claims are processed. Nigel Farage’s party has made tougher border enforcement a central part of its political programme and has challenged Labour to demonstrate that it can reduce irregular arrivals.
For Burnham, the issue presents a difficult balance. The government is under pressure to improve border management, disrupt people-smuggling networks and process asylum claims more quickly. At the same time, it must comply with legal obligations, protect people in danger and distinguish between those who qualify for protection and those who do not.
A strong personal popularity rating cannot, on its own, resolve these operational problems. The government will need to demonstrate that its approach produces measurable results, including more efficient decisions, appropriate accommodation arrangements and lawful enforcement.
The political consequences could depend on whether voters believe the government is making progress. If people continue to see the asylum system as expensive or poorly managed, positive impressions of the prime minister may not necessarily translate into support for Labour’s immigration policies.
The Challenge from Nigel Farage and Reform UK
Reform UK remains an important competitor in the national debate, particularly on immigration and dissatisfaction with the established political parties.
YouGov’s August favourability figures showed that 67% of Britons viewed Farage unfavourably, compared with 23% who viewed him favourably. His net rating was therefore substantially lower than Burnham’s in that particular survey. <Cite refs={[“turn437586search0”]}/>
These figures measure personal favourability rather than voting intention. They do not establish how people would vote in a general election, nor do they mean that every voter who dislikes one leader supports another. Voters may have positive views of a politician while disagreeing with their policies, or they may oppose a particular party without holding a strongly negative personal opinion of its leader.
For Reform, the challenge is to persuade voters that its proposals would address concerns about immigration, taxation and public services. For Labour, the challenge is to demonstrate that its own policies offer credible solutions and that it can deliver them within the limits of public finances.
The contest between the two parties is therefore likely to involve more than personality. It will also concern policy detail, implementation, credibility and the public’s assessment of government performance.
Popularity Does Not Guarantee Success
Political history provides many examples of leaders whose popularity has changed quickly after entering office. An early improvement can reflect optimism, relief at a change in leadership or a belief that the new prime minister understands voters’ concerns.
Maintaining that support is harder. Decisions about taxation, welfare, pensions, public services and economic priorities inevitably create winners and losers. Even policies that initially attract public support can become controversial when their costs and practical consequences become clearer.
Burnham will also face pressure from within Labour. Different parts of the party have different views on economic policy, public spending and the future relationship with Europe. Reconciling those positions while presenting a consistent government programme will require careful political management.
The economy will be particularly important. Household finances, energy bills, employment opportunities and the availability of public services can shape political perceptions more directly than a leader’s personal image. If voters feel their living standards are deteriorating, a favourable initial impression may weaken.
Equally, if the government can demonstrate tangible improvements, its personal and political standing may become more durable. The relationship between leadership ratings and policy performance, however, is not automatic: public opinion can move for many reasons, including international events and wider economic conditions.
What the Polls Tell Us About the Public Mood
The August YouGov survey is an important measure of how Britons viewed Burnham at that point in time, but it should be considered alongside other polling.
Ipsos published separate findings in September showing that the public preferred a Burnham-led Labour government to a government led by Farage’s Reform UK by 52% to 28% when respondents were asked to choose between those two alternatives. The same survey found that 61% believed the country was heading in the wrong direction, demonstrating that positive views of an individual leader can coexist with widespread dissatisfaction about the state of the country. <Cite refs={[“turn437586search7”]}/>
That distinction is crucial. A prime minister can be viewed more favourably than political rivals while still facing considerable public concern about the economy, public services or the direction of government policy.
Polls also differ in their wording, timing, sampling and methodology. A favourability survey asks whether people hold a positive or negative opinion of a politician, whereas an approval poll may ask whether a leader is doing a good job. Voting-intention polls measure something different again.
Taken together, these measures can provide a broader understanding of political sentiment, but no single number captures every aspect of public confidence.
Conclusion
Andy Burnham’s August 2026 popularity rating marked a significant moment in British politics. With 46% of Britons viewing him favourably and a net favourability score of plus 13, he reached the highest rating for a prime minister recorded by YouGov’s tracker since May 2020. The improvement suggested that his leadership had initially made a positive impression on a substantial share of the public.
However, the figures are a snapshot rather than a guarantee of future success. Burnham faces difficult decisions on immigration, public spending, the cost of living and Britain’s relationship with Europe. Reform UK will continue to challenge Labour on these issues, while voters will judge the government according to both its promises and its results.
The central question is whether Burnham can turn personal popularity into sustained confidence in his administration. His strongest ratings provide a favourable starting point, but maintaining that position will depend on the government’s ability to demonstrate progress, explain difficult decisions and respond to the concerns that matter most to the public.
Ultimately, political popularity is not measured by a single poll. It is an evolving relationship between a leader, the policies they pursue and the experiences of the people they govern.