Prime Minister Andy Burnham has ‘turned politics upside down’ in his first 100 days, Kevin Maguire said in the latest episode of the Mirror’s Sense Check YouTube show
Andy Burnham has ‘turned politics upside down’ but is yet to face his first ‘big crisis’, veteran columnist Kevin Maguire has said.
YouGov polling ahead of the Budget this week put Labour in first place on 27% – seven points ahead of Nigel Farage’s flagging Reform UK, who have now dropped to third beneath the Tories.
It’s only the latest in a series of polls showing the former Greater Manchester mayor spearheading a major turnaround in the party’s fortunes since entering Number 10.
Speaking to the Mirror‘s Nicola Thorp on the Sense Check podcast, Kevin said that the British public currently regard the Prime Minister as “authentic” and relaxed in his own skin, feeling that “what you see is what you get”.
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Reflecting on his first 100 days in Number 10, Mr Maguire said: “He’s actually turned politics upside down in Britain, because you think where Labour’s gone – dead and buried under Keir Starmer – and now ahead in the polls.
“Nigel Farage was top dog, Reform looked as if they were on their way to Downing Street, and now they’re third in most of the polls. It’s been incredible for Burnham.”
Nicola Thorp asked Kevin to score the Prime Minister’s first few months in power out of 10 – and he gave him an eight.
Kevin explained that, after a ‘steady-as-he-goes’ first Budget, he believed the next few months would prove a bigger test for the Prime Minister, with tough decisions to come on welfare spending and defence.
He said: “The reason I would give him eight, not nine or 10, if you’re wondering, is he’s got to walk the talk. And he hasn’t yet done that.
“So we’ve had his budget, we have had some other measures, we kind of get the shape of it. But a lot of the big decisions are still ahead on welfare, on the spending review, what’s going to happen in the public services going down the road.
“That issue of extra defence spending, which I think is madness, because we’re the sixth biggest spender on the planet already, but if you’re going to promise lots more cash, where are you going to get it from?
“In some ways he’s Farage’s worst nightmare because he’s more relatable than he is, he is very relaxed in his own skin and the truth is he’s authentic. Nigel Farage isn’t authentic, he likes to be that ‘man of the people’, having a pint in the pub.
“But he spends all his time in Mayfair clubs drinking gin and tonics and wine, rubbing shoulders with the richest people in the country.
“While Burnham is what you see. He is genuine and I think authenticity matters. I think he’s had a tremendous start, but he’s got to walk the talk.”
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