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New UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham Uses Social Media to Challenge Populist Parties

evening · · thread: New Prime Minister Andy Burnham Announces Welfare and Social Care Plans

2 sources across 2 countries · Singapore · United Kingdom · 1 of them is linked to a state

Who reported this

  • The Straits Times Singapore · Centre-right · State-affiliated · SPH Media Trust; management shares under the NPPA
  • Reuters United Kingdom · Centre · Thomson Reuters Corporation

What the colours mean

  • Left
  • Centre-left
  • Centre
  • Centre-right
  • Right
  • A hatched block means the outlet is affiliated with, or controlled by, a state.

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British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is utilizing social media platforms such as TikTok, X, and Instagram to challenge the dominance of populist parties like Reform UK. The former mayor of Greater Manchester replaced Keir Starmer as leader of the Labour Party. Experts suggest that Burnham is employing a positive and inclusive communication style, contrasting with the polarizing approach often used by the Greens or Reform UK.

Burnham has gained millions of views through quirky content, including a video with Finance Minister John Healey in a pub where they discussed hospitality tax cuts and ranked pub snacks. He also responded to criticism from Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, who described him as a pair of eyelashes and a black T-shirt, by posting a video clarifying that his shirt was dark blue.

While Burnham's following is currently smaller than that of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, he has seen rapid growth, adding 50,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram in a single day last week. Academics note that this coordinated strategy is a shift from the stilted communication of his predecessor. Analysts observe that while these social media efforts build a following, they do not directly address the challenges of improving living standards and a stagnant economy.

How each side framed it

Centre-right
The reporting emphasizes the strategic necessity of Burnham's social media presence to compete with populist figures and notes the economic challenges he has yet to address.

Sources

100% of the statements in this article were traced back to the source articles listed above.