𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Sir Tony Blair has warned Andy Burnham that he is not “going to be loved”, in leadership advice days before Mr Burnham enters 10 Downing Street. The Makerfield MP will take over from Sir Keir Starmer on Monday after he was the only candidate in Labour’s leadership race.

Speaking at the Tony Blair Institute’s summer drinks reception at the National Theatre in London, former Labour Prime Minister Sir Tony was asked what he would have said to himself in 1997 when he first won power. He replied: “I think you may think you’re going to be loved, but you’re not going to be.”

Sir Tony, who was in No 10 from 1997 to 2007, added: “Andy’s got a very sure political touch. He’s a genuinely people person. You know, he’s interested in people.

“I mean, it’s one of the things that distinguishes politicians, I think over time, when you get to know them, is that all politicians have got to pretend to be interested in people. But you know, you do come across politicians that love humanity in general.”

It comes as Mr Burnham, the former Greater Manchester mayor, has largely avoided scrutiny since returning to Parliament with his victory in the Makerfield by-election.

He has dodged questions from the media and will not face MPs before the summer recess.

Ahead of his coronation, Mr Burnham has a net approval rating of minus 8, according to the latest Opinium poll.

He is less popular than Tory leader Kemi Badenoch who has a score of minus 3, but beats Sir Keir who is on minus 45.