People on streets of York give verdict on Andy Burnham’s first week as Prime Minister

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) spoke to people in York city centre about what they thought of the new prime minister and the issues they wanted him to address.

Some felt he deserved a chance but others were concerned about his performance so far and felt they should have a say in who holds the top job in British politics.

It comes after Mr Burnham took over from outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday, July 20 after becoming Labour’s leader the previous Friday.

His first week in power has been marked by a flurry of cost of living policy announcements following Labour’s slump in support since they entered Government two years ago.

‘We’ve got to give him a chance’

Alan Parkin and Linda Ashman, both 72, said they hoped having a northerner at the top of British politics would give the North a boost.

Mr Parkin said: “I was hoping he would get in, he does a lot for northern people, he’s from Lancashire but he’s still from the North.

“He seems like a really nice person and very personable, we’ve got to give him a chance.

“I’m glad that Starmer’s gone, he was a weak kind of leader.

“There’s been so much said about levelling up but we don’t seem to have had any, so hopefully now we will.

“I also think we need someone to stand up to Donald Trump and say if you’re going to put tariffs on us then we will put them on you.

“As far as what Burnham’s done so far with the bus fares and other things, at the end of the day it’s got to be funded, who is going to pay for it?

“I would agree with Burnham opening up the North Sea to more oil and gas drilling, we shouldn’t be importing fuel.

“I know Burnham’s said he wants to end rough sleeping but we’re spending money housing asylum seekers.

“It’s been a turbulent time in politics, at one point it felt like leaders were being changed every three or four months.

“You can’t give everyone everything, but it does feel like those in power haven’t really done what they promised.”

‘He’s going too quickly’

Wendy Hunter, 84, said she felt Mr Burnham had rushed too much since taking charge.

Ms Hunter said: “I think he’s going too quickly without thinking about the consequences.

“I think he thinks he can treat England in the same way as Manchester, but a city isn’t a country and what works in one doesn’t work in another.

“He’s been out of national politics for too long, he was last in Parliament 10 years ago.

“There’s too many issues to mention at the moment, I think things like the announcement about the bus fares will make more of a difference in some places than others.

“It doesn’t seem like Burnham’s worked to compromise with those who worked for Starmer too much.

“I think Starmer was a good man in the wrong job, and I’m worried that there’s no one better available to do the job of prime minister.”

‘It should have been the people’s choice’

Sarah Percival, 23, said she felt the people should have been able to decide who became prime minister.

Ms Percival said: “It’s nice that he’s Northern but we should have had an election.

“I’ve only been able to vote on who runs the country once since I was legally able to, it should have been the people’s choice.

“There were worse options, but he wouldn’t have been my first choice.

“I’d like to see Burnham tax millionaires more, though I was sad to see him rule out a referendum on Scottish independence.

“I think it would be a very bad move for him to open up the North Sea oil and gas fields.

“He needs to understand more about what people want after Keir Starmer, rather than dampening his ideas.

“My family is very political and all either northern or European, we’re a very strong Green family and we also care deeply about the environment.

“I’d like it if Burnham was willing to listen to their ideas and what they have to say, I worry that he’s a bit ignorant about the environment.”