Analysis: Voters appear to back Andy Burnham's vision for Britain

In a similar way to how Nigel Farage used to set the agenda for a week, now Andy Burnham has shown he has similar political pull, argues Ralph Blackburn.

Well no matter what you think of Andy Burnham’s policies, there can be no denying that he has completely reinvigorated the Labour Party.

While often it felt like Sir Keir Starmer was always at the mercy of events, being buffeted helplessly in the breeze, Mr Burnham has seized the political agenda.

While the problem with the previous Prime Minister was despite hours of speeches and interviews, no one really knew his political beliefs, the same can not be said for Mr Burnham.

Over 70 minutes he reeled off a swathe of major announcements on the pensions triple lock, social care, electoral reform and Brexit, while also powering the speech full of emotion about his late father.

Labour figures walking out of the conference hall afterwards were jubilant.

South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard told The Yorkshire Post: “I thought it was all heart, that was the Andy Burnham that I’ve seen in person, in private, in the pub, in meetings.

“He’s somebody that cares deeply about this country, he wants to fix it, he doesn’t want to shy away from the challenge.

“He sees the human beings at the heart of those problems and is determined to make people’s lives better.”

Penistone and Stocksbridge MP Dr Marie Tidball described the speech as a “tour de force”.

In the days since, Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch have been caught up in his wake trying to respond.

In a similar way to how Mr Farage used to set the agenda for a week, now Mr Burnham has shown he has similar political pull.

For the mastermind of Brexit, it must be a funny feeling.

No wonder he has announced plans to hold two rallies every week until the next election - he wants to try and grasp back the initiative.

But the passion with which Mr Burnham exhibited, along with his ideas, appears to have cut through.

Survation’s snap poll following the speech found Labour had jumped to a five-point lead over Reform and a 10-point lead over the Conservatives.

Just over half of the respondents had seen or heard something about his speech, and 55 per cent had a positive impression.

While those who saw Mr Burnham’s plans for a national care service, free at the point of use, funded by a change in the triple lock, were overwhelmingly supportive.

Almost seven in 10 respondents were positive about the plans compared to 13 per cent who had a negative response.

Previously, any changes to the triple lock have been seen as electoral suicide, although Labour appears to be the party that could do it - with its younger voting base.

And the plans are already causing infighting amongst other parties.

In the Liberal Democrats, Harrogate and Knaresbrough MP Tom Gordon has slammed his leader Sir Ed Davey for claiming that changes to the triple lock will damage millennials.

He said: “The idea that we’re keeping the triple lock to help millennials is at best for the birds, and at worst downright insulting. I say that as a millennial.”

He said Sir Ed’s suggestion that the scrapping of the triple lock could hurt younger voters “gaslights an entire generation into believing it’s for our benefit”.

Now, where Mr Burnham goes all other politicians follow.