Nazir Afzal, former chief crown prosecutor for north-west England, has worked closely with both Keir Starmer and Andy Burnham. He argues that a single quality separates them—personal warmth and the ability to build trust—which is exactly what Britain needs most amid a deepening trust recession.
Trust Recession and Leadership Styles
The 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer found that nearly seven in 10 people believe their leaders are misleading them, with national government figures losing the most trust. Afzal notes that Starmer, who served as director of public prosecutions (DPP) while Afzal was a chief prosecutor, is forensic, principled, and serious. However, connection did not come naturally to him; he led with argument and detail where warmth was needed. In contrast, Burnham relates to people instantly and without effort, a quality Afzal witnessed firsthand during emotionally raw moments in Greater Manchester.
Starmer's Strengths and Limitations
Afzal praises Starmer for transforming the prosecution service and never doubting his integrity or public duty. But he recalls that after the successful prosecution of the Rochdale grooming gang, Starmer tasked him with chairing a national panel to re-examine cases. At meetings, Starmer applied his legal knowledge but sometimes missed the human element. Dozens of cases were re-examined, delivering justice to hundreds of victims, yet many left meetings unsure if Starmer was with them or against them. In an age of widespread mistrust, Afzal argues, being able to build trust and connect is vital—something Starmer struggled with.
Burnham's Authentic Connection
Afzal first met Burnham in 2017 on BBC Question Time, days after the Manchester Arena terrorist attack. Burnham had spent the day before meeting survivors and families of victims. Rather than letting anger overwhelm him, he presented himself as a compassionate soul who felt the collective hurt while aiming to unite rather than divide. Afzal notes that people dubbed him "king of the north" not for policy papers but because they felt heard. However, he warns that the natural gift that wins power differs from the discipline needed to rebuild national trust, and No 10 can turn warmth cold.
Lessons for Rebuilding Trust
Afzal outlines key principles for Burnham: telling the truth even when inconvenient, owning failures as openly as successes, staying connected to real life by listening to critics, and refusing to feed algorithms that reward outrage. He concludes that the prime ministers remembered from this anxious decade will be those people still trust and believe in, and Burnham might just be one of them.
