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Sat, 25 Jul 2026

Sat, 25 Jul 2026 What does the South make of the King of the North?

BBC South has been hearing from people about new PM Andy Burnham's first week in the top job.

* He cut VAT on electricity bills from 5% to 0%, saving a typical household £45 per year.
* He capped bus fares at £2, paid for by reprioritising government funds. Business owners have mixed reactions to the announcements, with some welcoming the measures but others feeling they are not enough. Aidan Lavin, co-owner of The Raven and Bine pub in Southampton, said the measures "are a promising start" but "nothing close to enough" to help businesses survive. Burnham has also announced plans to open a new regional branch of the PM's office, No 10 North, in Manchester's city centre. This is part of a move to shift power away from Whitehall and bring decision-making closer to local communities. Polls have shown a "little bounce" in support for Burnham, with politics professor Robert Johns saying his early signs are promising and he has the ingredients to win over public appeal.