Voters in Lincoln have expressed cautious optimism about Andy Burnham’s premiership after new polls showed a nationwide rise in Labour’s popularity.
A YouGov poll released this week found that, if an election was called tomorrow, the Red party would now win the most seats.
And, in Lincoln this morning, people appeared to broadly welcome the way the new prime minister had settled into the job.
Howard Jones, a 62-year-old engineer, said: “He’s the king of the north and getting things done! He has a record for delivery and, unlike Keir Starmer, he’s got real charisma.”
Jess Day, a 37-year-old shop supervisor, agreed.
The 37-year-old said: “He has some good, lofty ideas; and he presents himself in a nice light. He understands the working class and he’s not just working for people with money.”
And Anne Newlands, a 47-year-old shop assistant, added: “He’s a likeable fella. I don’t know if I support him wholeheartedly. I like his views on social care.”
But she said: “Perhaps he needs to be a bit less likeable in some respects – because he needs to make tough decisions and get stuff done for the country.”
Simon Trike was also of a similar view.
The 58-year-old social services worker had listened to Mr Burnham’s conference speech earlier this week and was especially pleased by the PM’s pledge to renationalise the water industry.
He said: “Water company bosses are receiving massive dividends while the public pay even more for an essential service – that’s not right.”
Yet not everyone was quite so keen on the former Greater Manchester Mayor.
Tom White, who gave his age as late 60s, said: “He’s just more of the same: Keir Starmer in relaxed gear.”
He wanted Mr Burnham to do more on climate change issues and to resolve the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Rick Watson, meanwhile, was even more blunt. The 56-year-old network manager said: “He’s awful, fake, and he has no ideas.” He would like, he said, an early election “to get him out”.
