Andy Burnham's strategy of implementing "everyday fixes" to address minor public frustrations is a calculated move to demonstrate that the government is attentive to voters' concerns, but recent polling suggests that seven in ten people remain dissatisfied with the government's overall performance.
The Strategy Behind Everyday Fixes
Last year, money-saving expert Martin Lewis advised the government to find "100 small things that piss people off" and sort them out. Burnham has adopted this approach since taking office, focusing on minor policy tweaks to tackle everyday annoyances. Labour strategists believe this philosophy shows that Burnham notices the frustrations of people's lives and is decisive about improving them.
Initial measures included scrapping VAT on electricity bills and capping bus fares. The latest policies target garish high street signs, excessive vape shops, betting shops, and subscriptions that auto-renew without warning. This approach applies the "broken window" theory of crime to politics, suggesting that clamping down on small-scale antisocial behavior can discourage more serious issues.
Signal to Companies and Voters
Burnham's moves against "rip-off Britain" serve as a warning to companies that the government is paying attention to their behavior towards voters. He is also considering increasing public control over essential services. This intention is a departure from Keir Starmer's promise to tread more lightly on people's lives, as Burnham bets that voters want active leaders who address everyday frustrations alongside major structural reform.
According to pollster Peter Kellner, former chair of YouGov, Burnham's instinct to act on voters' behalf is sound. Kellner notes that "probably the best any government can do in the short run – short of some educational programme about where our taxes go – is gain the perception that they as politicians are on the voters' sides. This is the key to the Burnham bounce." He adds that while the amounts of money involved are small, they are part of a story about where Burnham stands in relation to the government's responsibility to look after people.
Risks and Comparisons
However, there is a risk that hailing small changes could veer into consumer gimmicks, as American strategist David Axelrod warned. Axelrod, who advised Ed Miliband's 2015 campaign, famously branded Labour's approach as "Vote Labour and win a microwave," implying a lack of overarching vision. Another cautionary tale is the Biden-Harris administration, which targeted price gouging but never received credit for small changes due to persistent inflation.
Burnham must also guard against mockery if issues seem too inconsequential, akin to John Major's "cones hotline." Yet Burnham appears aware of these pitfalls, openly flagging policies as small wins while promising bigger structural change on social care and public ownership of utilities. Labour is also ready to paint Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch as out of touch for ridiculing the policies.
Public Opinion and Future Prospects
Polling suggests voters are tentatively impressed, with Labour gaining ground as Reform UK and the Greens slide. However, Ipsos Mori data shows seven in ten remain dissatisfied with the government's running of the country. While voters may think Burnham is outperforming other parties, they still need convincing that he can change their lives for the better.
