Can Labour’s Clark Kent turn into Britain’s Superman – a very likeable Northern bloke transforming himself into a superhero saving our country?
Bouncing Andy Burnham’s certainly flying high in Downing Street as the nation’s most popular political leader, alone enjoying a net positive approval rating.
The Prime Minister’s +7% personal score is ahead of Kemi Badenoch (-3) and Ed Davey (-4) never mind Zack Polanski (-24) and Nigel Farage (-25).
Ask voters who would make the best PM and a former King of the North now elevated to governing all of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland trounces Badenoch by 20 points and Nigel Farage by 22 points.
Labour’s topping most opinion polls, seat projections forecasting in an immediate General Election it would be the biggest party.
That’s an astonishing turnaround when two months ago Labour looked dead and buried under Keir Starmer and this time last year Burnham himself was run out of Liverpool with his tail between his legs after a premature leadership bid flopped. This week he’s loved by Andy’s Army at a revivalist mustering, all handshakes and hope on the Mersey.
He’s tougher than his critics acknowledge and determined not to waste a single minute of a golden opportunity to rebuild Britain for the better, I was told by an admiring Minister.
Ruling out an early election, emphasising 2029, was smart politics to nail potentially destabilising speculation. Preparing the territory for social care to be a crucial battleground when that showdown comes is astute.
As is acknowledging Labour requires time to convince a misled public wrongly believing net migration and boat people are up when both are significantly down. The economy is the issue he’ll ultimately soar or crash over which is why John Healey’s Budget on October 28 is even more important than Burnham’s keynote speech this week.
So will Burnham remain commendable Clark Kent or emerge as Superman? Being an engaging, down-to-Earth lad eager to improve lives is itself proving a superpower.
Booze own goal
Where Burnham’s lost the crowd is reintroducing boozing at football.
Supporters regularly going to games are two-to-one against (YouGov found 63%-35% opposition) and this Sunderland season card holder is in the majority.
I’m usually against everything Thatcher did but prefer 45 minutes without a pint to a beer shampoo and clothes rinse from drunks spilling ale or, worse, throwing the sticky stuff in the air for goals like we see in fan parks.
The man of the people either listens to people watching men’s matches instead or he’ll be deluged with dry cleaning bills.
