Nazir Afzal, who served as a chief prosecutor while Keir Starmer was director of public prosecutions and worked with Andy Burnham during his tenure as mayor of Greater Manchester, offers a unique perspective on the two Labour leaders. With Starmer stepping down and Burnham poised to enter No 10, Afzal identifies the single quality that separates them: the ability to connect with people and build trust.
The Trust Recession
Afzal points to a "trust recession" gripping Britain, citing the 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer which found that nearly seven in 10 people believe their leaders are misleading them, with national government figures losing the most trust. In this climate, he argues, the ability to build trust and connect is a vital skill that Burnham possesses naturally.
Starmer: Forensic but Distant
Afzal praises Starmer as "forensic, principled and serious" and credits him with transforming the prosecution service as DPP. However, he notes that "connection did not come naturally to him." During their work on the Rochdale grooming gang cases, Starmer would apply his legal knowledge but sometimes miss the human element. "Many left meetings not knowing if he was with them or against them," Afzal writes. While Starmer's values were always right, his struggle was "making people believe it."
Burnham: Natural Connector
Afzal describes Burnham as the opposite: he relates to people instantly and without effort. Recalling their first meeting on a Question Time panel days after the Manchester Arena attack in 2017, Afzal says Burnham engaged with communities with authenticity. "They didn't crown him 'king of the north' for his policy papers; they did it because people felt he heard him." However, Afzal warns that No 10 can turn warmth cold, and Burnham must now combine his natural gift with discipline.
What Burnham Must Do to Succeed
Afzal outlines key steps for rebuilding trust: telling the truth even when it's difficult, owning failures openly, staying connected by listening to critics, matching words with action, and refusing to feed algorithms that reward outrage. He concludes that the prime ministers remembered from this anxious decade will be those people still trust and believe in, and Burnham might just be one of them.
