Political Fix 100 days of Burnham
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Oct 23, 2026 
Scarlett Maguire, founder of Merlin Strategy, joins Financial Times correspondents David Sheppard and Jim Pickard to examine Andy Burnham’s first 100 days. Sheffield voters reveal their anxieties over taxes, fuel costs and political cynicism. The panel weighs Burnham against Starmer and Farage, then turns to Labour’s controversial Jackdaw gasfield approval, net-zero credibility, North Sea jobs and the looming Budget.
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Voters Can Despair And Still Support Burnham
- Voters expressed deep pessimism about Britain while remaining relatively open to Burnham, reflecting dissatisfaction with alternatives rather than enthusiasm.
- Jim Pickard compares this with Americans fearing Donald Trump yet still supporting Republicans because opponents seem worse.
Burnham Benefits From Rivals’ Decline
- Burnham benefits from unusually weak rivals as Nigel Farage loses support after donor controversies and the Greens decline under Zack Polanski.
- Persistent economic hardship, rather than uniquely poor leadership, explains much of Britain’s political churn.
Tax Has Become Part Of The Cost Crisis
- Cost of living remains voters’ overriding concern, but people increasingly fold taxation into that complaint.
- This creates a central Labour dilemma: voters want relief while demanding services and resisting additional taxes.