Andy Burnham, known as the 'King of the North' for his popularity as Greater Manchester mayor, has become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. However, in London, many residents view him with skepticism, seeing him as an unknown figure from the north with a vague policy platform.
Londoners Question Burnham's Mandate
On Lower Marsh in Lambeth—a borough where Labour recently lost control to the Greens—residents expressed frustration that Burnham assumed office without a national mandate. Andrew Hawes, a 68-year-old wine merchant, said: “We know little about him. I know he used to be an MP and mayor of Manchester. We read a lot in the papers about him. They say business people are worried about what he will do and that he wants to devolve power. It’s all the left-wing thing he’s doing – if you read the media that’s the case anyway. I think generally people are worried he might ignore London and the city. There is a lot of unknown. He hasn’t stated a lot of policies and Labour was brought in on a mandate for Starmer, not Burnham.”
Marion Ross, 88, walking with her husband James, 87, near Waterloo station, said: “We want a general election. This guy has come from up north, he’s been put in and we don’t know what he stands for or what his manifesto is. Everyone I talk to in London feels the same on this. I think our country is going down the toilet. He shouldn’t be shoed in with no mandate from the country. There are more than 400 MPs but they have to bring someone else in. We thought Elvis had come back to the building because he was waved in like a celebrity.” James added that a prime minister elected in Makerfield with just under 25,000 votes is not democratic.
Uncertainty Over Policies and Direction
Polly Smith, walking her dog Frodo, said: “We just don’t know what he’s about. You got to know him well with the mayoralty in Manchester, but we’re waiting to see what he’s going to do. It’s like watch this space, because we’re completely in the unknown. I hope it’ll be better than before. We’re much more cautious about it than maybe the north is. It’s all rather odd because this is our Prime Minister but it’s all done without a mandate. At least with Rishi Sunak coming in after Boris Johnson we knew what we were getting. Does he have to stick by the Labour manifesto or doesn’t he? Will he just tear it up, stick with what Starmer said, or do something completely different?”
Roger Bristow, 75, heading home from the pub, added: “Life goes on whatever, it doesn’t matter who’s in Number 10 as they’ll do whatever they want. I’ve not seen what he stands for, so it’s sort of unknown.” Mary King said: “I didn’t like the way it was done. I don’t know much about Burnham but I know people like him, but others say he takes credit for ideas that weren’t his. He’s good at making people feel positive without any detail. If you listen to what he’s been saying it’s all been quite vague. I think the five Prime Ministers in four years shows people not being realistic about the issues we have. You can’t have everything you want. We need to focus on our priorities. I want Burnham to say what the problems are, the choices we have to make and stop flip flopping and messing around.”
Younger Londoners More Positive
Susannah Bond, a 29-year-old publican walking her Labrador Goose, expressed a different view: “My boyfriend is big on him and we’ve watched some of the interviews online. A lot of it is quite funny. My friends live in Manchester and they’re big on him as well. I feel quite positive about him as he will be a bit of fresh air. I think it’s about his background and how he’s come into politics that I like. He’s a bit more grounded and he’s more relatable as well. He’s doing it because he cares about people and the country rather than seeing it as a career. I prefer him to Starmer. I think London gets a lot of attention so change could be good.”
Konstantin Mikhaav, 32, who regularly travels from Kazakhstan to work in the UK, said: “I’ve been all over the country and Manchester is a lot better for me. I felt more welcome there. I think it would be good for Andy Burnham to bring a bit of Manchester to London. I’ve worked here five years and every year I don’t feel the country gets better. Every year it gets harder and harder for people financially. I do think politicians do have to change but this is too much. I can’t keep track of what is happening and who is in charge.”
As Burnham begins his premiership cheered by northern supporters, he clearly still has much to prove to Londoners, who remain divided but largely uncertain about the new prime minister.
