ANDY BURNHAM’S popularity is on the slide with the public, according to two different opinion polls.

In the week that Makerfield is poised to send the Manchester Mayor back to the Commons with a platform to challenge Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for the premiership, Mr Burnham’s previously positive ratings have turned sour.

YouGov, which previously made him the only politician in the country with a net favourability rating, now has him down 11 per cent, with 30 per cent of the public liking him against 41 per cent negative.

An Ipsos poll had similar findings, although both surveys still make Mr Burnham less unpopular than any other politician and notably more popular than potential leadership rival Wes Streeting.

Since starting his by-election campaign in Makerfield, which votes on Thursday, Mr Burnham has flip-flopped on a range of policy issues, from the bond market to justice for the Waspi women.

Leading figures on the Labour left are also privately expressing doubts and warning that, if Mr Burnham does ascend to Downing Street, continuing pressure will be needed to ensure he steers a different course than Sir Keir.

However, Ipsos found that voters would prefer a Labour Party led by Mr Burnham as the next government over a Reform administration headed by Nigel Farage, by 44 per cent to 31 per cent.

This is different from polls that ask people to express a party preference — instead, it invites them to choose between two scenarios. In reality, the next general election will likely offer several.