A new YouGov poll has dealt a significant blow to Andy Burnham, revealing that only 23% of Britons believe he would govern in the interests of the whole country if handed greater power. The survey, published on Wednesday, found that 27% of respondents expect the Greater Manchester mayor to govern mainly in the interests of the North of England, while 15% said he would prioritise somewhere else and 35% were unsure.
Burnham's National Ambitions Face Scepticism
The findings undermine Mr Burnham as he positions himself as a national figure pushing what he calls the biggest transfer of power from Whitehall in modern times. In a speech on Monday, he pledged to create a “No10 North” in Manchester as the “nerve centre of a rewired Britain”, declaring an end to Whitehall resistance to devolution. He has promised to move the UK in a “new direction” with far greater autonomy for regions.
However, the poll reveals deep scepticism across the political spectrum. Conservative voters (11%) and Reform supporters (8%) were the least likely to think he would act for the whole country. There was also a clear north-south divide: Northerners backed the idea of Mr Burnham governing nationally by 32% to 13%, while southerners expected him to favour the North by 36% to 18%.
NAO Report Highlights Tensions in Devolution Plans
The polling coincides with a report from the National Audit Office (NAO) that highlights serious tensions in the government’s devolution plans, which Mr Burnham wants to accelerate. The NAO warned of a fundamental conflict between local leaders’ demands for autonomy and Whitehall departments’ responsibility for public money. Some mayoral strategic authorities (MSAs) complained that government performance measures “reduce flexibility and limit their ability to reflect local needs”.
The report noted that while the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has made “good progress” in setting up 18 MSAs and introducing integrated funding settlements worth £15.9 billion from 2025-26 to 2029-30, accountability remains problematic. The NAO stated: “There is a clear tension between departments’ responsibilities and the ambition of the English Devolution White Paper.” It stressed that this tension “will need to be resolved, and local accountability arrangements substantially strengthened and tested”, before further devolution can be judged effective.
Weaknesses in Local Audits Flagged
Weaknesses in local audits were also flagged. The NAO highlighted that submissions from 280 of 317 English councils in 2024-25 were either unaudited or disclaimed, raising questions about scrutiny of spending as more powers and money flow to regions. Gareth Davies, head of the NAO, said MHCLG had done well so far but must ensure accountability is “proportionate and supported by strengthened local accountability arrangements”.
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, welcomed more devolution but expressed concern that “scrutiny arrangements are not keeping pace with additional responsibilities and funding”. The findings are awkward for Mr Burnham, whose ambitions go far beyond Greater Manchester. Critics will see the poll as evidence that much of the country views his push for radical devolution as a vehicle for northern interests rather than a balanced national project.
Uphill Battle for 'No10 North' Vision
Mr Burnham’s supporters argue the regional divide simply shows the need for greater power away from Westminster. However, with trust in his ability to govern for everyone so low outside the North, the YouGov numbers suggest he faces an uphill battle to convince the wider public that “No10 North” would work for Britain as a whole.
