When Andy Burnham first announced a crackdown on people playing loud music or videos on public transport the policy had plenty of detractors. But the public took notice. According to polling from Opinium, 68 per cent of Britons were aware of the announcement. For context, Storm Austen – which ripped up trees as it tore through Britain – was noticed by just 72 per cent of people. Phil Foden scoring a hat-trick for Manchester City was noticed by 33 per cent. That’s half the level of attention voters are giving to pedestrian announcements from the Prime Minister right now.

In the past year there has been next to no change in the share of voters optimistic about their finances or indeed the British economy, which makes the blank cheque voters have given Andy Burnham all the more surprising.

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