Burnham’s Social-Media Gambit Amid a Green Surge

Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Chancellor John Healey posted a light-hearted Instagram reel ranking crisps, a stunt that commentators say is intended to broaden Burnham’s appeal beyond traditional Labour voters. At the same time, police cleared Green leader Zack Polanski of any offence after he reposted an image of a guillotine-t-shirt, which he said was uploaded unintentionally and deleted once noticed. The incident, occurring days after the alleged murder of Reform spokesperson Ann Widdecombe, has added pressure on the Greens ahead of upcoming elections.

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The Labour Party has enjoyed a brief resurgence, with the More in Common poll this week showing Labour back in the lead for the first time since last March. Analysts attribute the “Burnham bounce” to his outreach on platforms dominated by Green supporters, as well as his public criticism of the previous government’s Gaza stance and neoliberal legacy. Green voters, however, remain skeptical of Burnham’s “business-friendly socialism,” especially after his government’s support for additional North Sea drilling.

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• Andy Burnham – Mayor of Manchester and Labour MP, promoting a cross-party social-care initiative.

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• Zack Polanski – Prominent Green Party figure and former TikTok influencer, recently cleared of a social-media breach.

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• Keir Starmer – Prime Minister, whose declining popularity has opened space for Green and Labour gains.

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• John Healey – Chancellor, appearing alongside Burnham in the crisp-ranking video.

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• The More in Common poll places Labour ahead of the Greens for the first time since March 2025.

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• YouGov reported that in early May, 22 % of Britons thought Polanski would be a better prime minister than Starmer; that figure has fallen to 9 % in favor of Burnham.

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• Recent local-election controversies involving Polanski include a missed voter registration, council-tax disputes, and allegations of antisemitism among Green candidates.

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Commentators argue that Burnham’s media strategy is buying him a narrow window to deliver on social-care reforms before the Green surge wanes. The Greens are expected to contest the upcoming Manchester mayoral elections, hoping to improve on their 2024 performance. While Burnham has ruled out a snap election, his “blitzkrieg of vague announcements” aims to keep Reform and the Greens politically oxygen-starved while he seeks to translate popularity into policy. The next few weeks will test whether his social-media outreach can translate into lasting legislative achievements.

The Guardian