The Tories say ‘Andy Burnham would just be Starmer in a different suit’
Kemi Badenoch wants to replace Sir Keir In Number 10 – but will he be gone before the election? (Image: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)
Kemi Badenoch is the only potential prime minister who voters think would do a better job than Andy Burnham. Conservatives welcomed the latest polling as a signal that Mrs Badenoch is winning the trust of voters less than two years after the Tories lost power in the Labour landslide. More in Common found 35% of voters thought the Conservative leader would be better than Sir Keir Starmer. This was more than the 32% who said the same for Mayor of Greater Manchester and Labour leadership hopeful Andy Burnham.
Thirty-one per cent thought Reform UK leader Nigel Farage would be a better PM than Sir Keir. This rating was far ahead of Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey’s (21%), Green Party leader Zack Polanski’s (16%) and former Labour Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s (15%).
Just 14% thought former Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner would be a better prime minister than Sir Keir. A mere 12% thought Energy Security Secretary Ed Miliband, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood or Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper would perform better in the top job.
Elections expert and Tory peer Lord Hayward said: “It is fascinating. Both Kemi and Andy are clearly outperforming their parties. Kemi is hopefully helping to repair the Conservative Party’s reputation as a damaged brand. Many Labour supporters are hoping that Burnham would do likewise.”
The Tory leader topped the poll on who would be better than Keir Starmer as PM (Image: Dinendra Haria/SOPA Images/Shutterstock)
Remarking on the change in fortunes for Mrs Badenoch and Mr Burnham, Lord Hayward said: “In September last year Andy Burnham was accused of trying use the Labour conference to launch his campaign and was considered to have massively damaged his leadership chances as a result. A week later, Kemi arrived at her conference with her leadership chances hanging by a thread. They have both had a great last few months.”
Alex Burghart, the Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said: “It’s great to see that Kemi is winning the trust of the British people. She is the only leader with the strength and honesty to solve the problems the country faces. She has a plan and a team which will help rebuild the country.”
Tories are heartened by Kemi Badenoch’s narrow lead over Andy Burnham (Image: More in Common)
Luke Tryl of More in Common, said: “Labour’s Andy Burnham and Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch occupy distinctive positions as the only figures seen, on balance, by the public as improvements on Keir Starmer. Burnham’s advantage is his broad-based appeal, and there’s evidence he can cut across party lines and win back voters who have drifted from Labour. While Badenoch performs strongly, she remains more polarising, attracting significant support but often sharper opposition.”
A Conservative Party spokesperson claimed “Andy Burnham would just be Starmer in a different suit”, stating: “Voters are increasingly recognising that only Kemi Badenoch has the strength of character, the backbone and the clear plans to fix the mess that Labour have made of the country.”