Just three days into his tenure as Britain’s prime minister, Andy Burnham is finding that his promise to “do politics differently” carries significant risks. The Prime Minister has spent his first week in Downing Street contending with accusations of performing U-turns on key policy issues, including the income tax threshold, tax increases for higher earners, and the potential freezing of private sector rents. These controversies stem from a combination of an unfinalized policy platform and Burnham’s tendency to speak openly about his ideas before they are fully formed.
Earlier this week, Burnham mentioned that he heard frequent complaints regarding the income tax threshold during his successful Makerfield byelection campaign, which led to speculation that he intended to raise it. While reports on Tuesday suggested he had ruled out such a move, he clarified on Wednesday that the option remained on the table. Burnham expressed frustration regarding the interpretation of his words, telling broadcasters that he values honesty and wants to maintain a conversational tone, despite the tendency of modern political reporting to read into every statement.
A similar situation occurred regarding the potential freezing of private sector rents. When asked on Monday if this could be part of a strategy to address the UK’s cost-of-living crisis, the Prime Minister replied that his team was “looking at all of those things.” By Wednesday, reports indicated that officials were not actively considering such a policy. Additionally, Burnham has initiated an unexpected debate regarding the early release of prisoners, stating he would review the current policy used to manage prison overcrowding.
One Labour official noted that while Burnham is a talented communicator, the media environment is hostile, and he must navigate it with caution. The official suggested that because Burnham has not faced a general election or extensive scrutiny, many are still trying to determine his priorities. Supporters of his style view it as a necessary departure from the rigid, buttoned-up approach of his predecessor, Keir Starmer, arguing that the modern media landscape demands authenticity.
Sean Kemp, a partner at Hanbury Strategy who previously advised Nick Clegg, remarked that Burnham is aware of the consequences of his communication style but appears committed to it regardless. This approach extends to his use of social media, including an online Q&A session on Reddit following his byelection win. However, his interview with Gary Lineker also sparked confusion, as his comments on fairness and wealth taxes were interpreted in conflicting ways by various observers.
Experts in political communication warn that bypassing traditional journalism is a recurring ambition for prime ministers, yet it remains difficult to avoid. Guto Harri, a former communications director for Boris Johnson, emphasized that as the First Lord of the Treasury, Burnham’s words carry weight. He cautioned that if the Prime Minister continues to make remarks that are not followed by concrete action, the public may quickly become cynical.
“I think every single prime minister in the last 25 years has tried to do that,” said Kemp. “Then they realise that these are the people reporting day to day on what you are doing, and still, to a great extent, are setting the parameters of how you’re viewed.”
