Will Andy Burnham’s everyday fixes be enough to get the public on his side?
The prime minister’s money-saving policies are popular but they are yet to convince voters he can take on the big things It was last year that Martin Lewis, the money-saving guru, advised the government to find “100 small things that piss people off” and set about sorting them out. That approach has been adopted almost immediately by Andy Burnham since entering office, as he began his programme…
The Labour Party's policy of addressing everyday issues is gaining traction with voters, according to pollster Peter Kellner. Since entering office, Andy Burnham has been focusing on "everyday fixes" to tackle problems that can be solved through minor policy adjustments. These fixes include scrapping VAT on electricity bills, capping bus fares, and tackling issues such as excessive vape and betting shops, as well as subscriptions that auto-renew without warning.
The strategy behind this approach is to demonstrate to the public that Burnham is aware of their frustrations and is committed to making a difference in their lives. This tactic is inspired by the "broken window" theory of crime, which suggests that addressing small-scale antisocial behavior can help discourage more serious issues.
Labour strategists believe that this approach will show that Burnham is attentive to the concerns of everyday voters and will be decisive in improving these issues. However, there is a risk that Burnham could be seen as engaging in consumer gimmicks, similar to Labour's approach during Ed Miliband's 2015 campaign, which was criticized for offering short-term bargains without a clear, inspiring message.
Another potential risk is the mockery of Burnham's efforts if the issues he addresses seem too inconsequential for a prime minister to be dealing with. Despite these risks, polling data suggests that voters are impressed by Burnham's policy of small wins and are moving back towards Labour, even though seven in ten remain dissatisfied with the government's performance.
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