Andy Burnham tops UK Labour popularity poll as potential next prime minister

Former Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has emerged as the frontrunner to lead the UK Labour Party after Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigned on 22 June. Burnham won the Makerfield by‑election with 55 % of the vote, a result seen as a clear signal that the party’s soft‑left faction is gaining momentum.

A YouGov poll of 2,381 British adults found Burnham is more popular than Reform UK leader Nigel Farage (43 % vs 23 %) and is preferred over Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch (32 % vs 28 %) as the next prime minister. The survey underscores Burnham’s growing appeal ahead of the Labour leadership contest.