𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

A nation in the grip of anxiety about the rising cost of living does not see Andy Burnham as its Messiah. More than three quarters of British adults (76%) say they are concerned about the personal impact of cost of living increases over the next six months – but only around one in four (26%) believes the newly arrived prime minister will change the country for the better.

The Ipsos research reveals that nearly seven in 10 Britons (68%) expect inflation to increase over the coming year and nearly half (47%) are braced for a drop in their disposable income.

An overwhelming 77% expect the cost of their food shopping to climb higher in the next six months and three in four are braced for higher utility bills.

There is little sign of excitement about Mr Burnham replacing Sir Keir Starmer in Number 10. Fewer than three in 10 people (28%) hold positive views of the new PM’s premiership.

Only 21% view him negatively but 42% are neutral. Around a quarter of Brits (26%) expect Mr Burnham will make things better, 15% are braced for a change for the worse, and four in 10 said they thought his arrival would make no difference.

In contrast, when Sir Keir arrived in office, 43% thought he would deliver change for the better.

On the key issue of the cost of living, 22% expect Mr Burnham’s Government to do a good job; 23% a bad job, and the rest are either neutral or do not know.

Gideon Skinner of Ipsos said: “Many Britons are reserving judgement at this stage on how well the new PM will deliver, but they don’t want to wait too long before they see some improvements. Four in 10 think seeing some signs of tangible change within the year is a realistic expectation – but only half that think they actually will.”

Mr Burnham has made tackling the cost of living an early centrepiece of his premiership. He has declared a mission to “give people breathing space” and announced the removal of VAT from domestic electricity bills on his second day in office.

Ipsos’s Mr Skinner said the public mood was “characterised by acute financial anxiety” with the “vast majority of Britons bracing for continued pressure on food, energy, and everyday household costs”.

Pessimism is not as deep as in recent months when the Strait of Hormuz was closed in response to US attacks on Iran but he said there is “little sign of the public expecting to see things get much better”.

John O’Connell, chief executive at the Taxpayers’ Alliance said: “Andy Burnham says he wants a cost of living government, but that will mean nothing if families are hit with higher taxes, frozen thresholds and more expensive bills. The new prime minister should give taxpayers immediate breathing space by cutting taxes, ending fiscal drag and getting spending under control.”

Matt Vickers, deputy chairman of the Conservative party, attacked Mr Burnham, saying: “He entered government without a plan, which is why his announcements this week were unfunded, meaning taxes or borrowing will have to go up to pay for them. This is not good enough for the hardworking families and businesses who have suffered under two years of Labour.

“Under Kemi Badenoch, [our] cheap power plan will cut energy bills by £200, we will recruit 20,000 more soldiers by reinstating the two child benefit cap and we will abolish stamp duty on primary homes.”