Ipsos Business polling: What businesses think of Burnham and their priorities for the new Government

• Labour leads on the economy and business policy: Labour is ahead of other parties among businesses for having the best policies on managing the economy (26%), for Britain's businesses (27%), for people in work (29%), and for boosting international trade and investment (23%)
• Businesses split on new Prime Minister Andy Burnham: 31% agree that Andy Burnham has what it takes to be a good Prime Minister, while 31% disagree and 31% neither agree nor disagree
• Farage is seen by more businesses as having what it takes to be a good PM than Burnham:  but he is also more polarising, whereas one in three businesses haven’t made their mind up on Burnham yet

New Ipsos polling of 1,200 senior business decision makers with an annual turnover of £250,000, conducted between 1 July - 16 July 2026, reveals that Labour continues to lead the Conservatives and Reform in terms of having the best economic and business policies, However, businesses are split on Andy Burnham's suitability as Prime Minister.

Oliver Fenton, Associate Director in the Economy and Environment cluster at Ipsos, said:  

Our latest business polling results highlight some positive signs for the new Labour government: confidence has improved since the Spring, with Labour increasing its lead as the party with the best policies for Britain’s businesses.

There is also evidence to suggest that Burnham’s regional agenda appeals to UK businesses, but one in three remain unsure whether that he has what it takes to be a good Prime Minister.

Support with energy costs and business taxes will go a significant way to convincing the wider business community that Burnham is on their side.

Labour continues to lead on economic and business policies

There has been an increase since February in the proportion of businesses who say that Labour has the best policies on the economy, business, work, and international trade since February. The Conservatives have experienced a decline across the same period, with Reform now second place across these policy areas. The full results are as follows:

• On managing the economy: Labour 26%, Reform UK 21%, Conservatives 14%
• For Britain's businesses: Labour 27%, Reform UK 21%, Conservatives 16%
• For people in work: Labour 29%, Reform UK 21%, Conservatives 14%
• For boosting international trade and investment: Labour 23%, Reform UK 20%, Conservatives 17%

There has also been an increase in the proportion of businesses that said the governments' economic policies will benefit their region (45%, up 5% points) and their sector (45%, up 5% points) since May.  

What businesses think of Andy Burnham

Businesses are split on whether Andy Burnham has what it takes to be the next Prime Minister: three in ten (31%) believe that he has what it takes, but the same proportion (31%) disagree or remain uncertain. More businesses think Nigel Farage has what it takes (36%) but he is also more polarising with 43% disagreeing.

Kemi Badenoch is in third with 28% of businesses saying she has what it takes to be a good Prime Minister, only just ahead of Zack Polanski (25%) and Ed Davey (23%).

Business confidence and policy priorities

The proportion of businesses that think the UK’s economic condition will improve over the next 12 months has increased since May from 26% to 31%.  

However, 41% still expect the country's economic condition to get worsen (down from 49% in May).

Businesses said their top priorities for the new Government remained support with costs / taxes. The proportion that wants help with adopting AI has increased since May (with this joint third top), whereas the proportion that say closer ties with the EU is a top priority has declined by 6% points (now also joint third). The top policy priorities are:  

• Help with the cost of energy (29%, -3 since May)
• Reducing taxes paid by business (27%, no change since May)
• Building closer trade ties with the EU (15%, -6 since May)
• Improving the quality of public services (15%, -2 since May)
• Helping with adopting AI (15%, +4 since May) 
   

For more information, please contact: Owen Evans
Director of Media and Partnerships
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 07814211915

Technical Note:
Ipsos interviewed a representative sample of 1,200 senior decision makers, representing UK businesses with annual turnover of £250,000 or more. Polling was conducted online between 1 July - 16 July 2026. Data are weighted to match the profile of the population. All polls are subject to a wide range of potential sources of error. Questions on party policies and political figures were asked of 1,127 senior decision makers.