Labour has moved back into the lead in British opinion polls after Andy Burnham became prime minister and secured a decisive win in the Greater Manchester Mayoral by-election.
Recent surveys place Labour in the mid-to-high 20s, opening a gap of up to five points over Nigel Farage's Reform UK for the first time in over a year.
>>> Canadiens Weigh Cost of Acquiring Kirill Marchenko
BMG Research recorded Labour at 28% against Reform's 23%, while Convergent MRP polling showed Labour at 26% and Reform at 23%.
The shift follows Burnham's rapid introduction of cost-of-living measures, including a £2 bus fare cap, business rate reductions for hospitality, and lower electricity bills.
In Manchester, Labour secured 47% of first-preference votes, nearly double its regional result from May's local elections.
Analysts See Limits in the Bounce
Despite the surge, election analysts note that Labour remains short of a general election majority and still depends on winning back progressive voters from the Greens and Liberal Democrats rather than attracting Reform supporters.
Sir John Curtice, Professor of Politics at Strathclyde University, said, "The Burnham bounce is real but it's not massive."
Curtice observed that Labour's standing has recovered from the 19% left by Sir Keir Starmer but remains lower than the 35% achieved in the 2024 general election.
"Burnham's party still has a long way to go before it can face the prospect of fighting a general election with confidence," he added.
>>> Telstar in Advanced Talks to Sign FC Twente Midfielder Harrie Kuster
