Andy Burnham enjoys early popularity as UK prime minister but faces tougher challenges ahead

Andy Burnham has enjoyed a honeymoon first month as UK prime minister, but the hard trade-offs involved in governing are about to get real as parliament returns from its summer break in the coming days.

Since succeeding Keir Starmer on July 20, Burnham has pleased voters with several low-cost sweeteners, including cutting electricity bills and bus fares, while burnishing his casual man-of-the-people vibes.

He has poured pints of beer with his finance minister, played guitar in Ukraine, and kept up a prolific output of slick social media videos during a self-styled “listening tour” of Britain.

Projecting a sunnier outlook than the strait-laced Starmer, and benefiting from the woes besetting hard-right rival Nigel Farage, Burnham has sparked a poll bounce for his ruling Labour Party.

A YouGov survey published on August 18 found that 46 per cent of Britons view him favourably, up 12 points from when he first arrived at Downing Street.

With lawmakers on holiday, the new prime minister has largely been able to avoid thornier issues during his first weeks in office.