Fewer than one in four voters believe Andy Burnham, the Labour MP for Makerfield and prime-minister-in-waiting, would represent the interests of the entire United Kingdom, according to a recent survey. The poll indicates that a larger share of the public expects Burnham to prioritise regional concerns, particularly those of the North of England.

The survey, conducted by YouGov on June 30 with 4,473 adults, found that 23 percent of respondents think Burnham would govern with the whole country’s interests in mind. In contrast, 27 percent anticipated that his leadership would focus mainly on regions such as the North, reflecting his long-standing association with northern England. Burnham, known previously as the “King of the North” during his tenure as Manchester mayor, recently pledged to establish a “No 10 North” — a move to relocate part of the prime minister’s office out of London to Manchester in an effort to “rewire Britain.”

Political affiliation significantly influenced perceptions. Among Conservative voters, only 11 percent believed Burnham would govern for everyone, while the figure was even lower among Reform UK supporters, at 8 percent. Just 4 percent of all respondents thought he would prioritise London and the South East. A notable 35 percent of participants were uncertain about how he would govern.

The poll also revealed regional differences in expectations. About 32 percent of respondents in northern England believed Burnham would govern for the entire UK, while 13 percent thought he would favour northern interests. Conversely, 36 percent of those in southern England anticipated a northern bias, with only 18 percent expecting him to lead for all regions.

The findings follow Burnham’s announcement of plans to move part of the prime minister’s operations to Manchester, signalling a shift toward decentralising government and addressing long-standing regional disparities. Former Labour leadership candidate Wes Streeting, now a supporter of Burnham, emphasised that feelings of neglect and inequality are not confined to the North. He pointed to estuary towns in Kent and rural areas in Cornwall and Devon as examples of communities that share similar frustrations with London’s dominance and the distribution of infrastructure investment.

The survey reflects ongoing public debate about regional representation and how future government leadership might address perceived imbalances across the UK.