“One single change doesn’t carry that sort of weight with people, nor should it.”

As Labour hope the appointment of new Prime Minister Andy Burnham will help restore voters’ faith in the party after Reform UK surged in May’s local elections, South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard admits there’s still a lot of work to do.

Mr Coppard was quick to call for Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation after the May 7 election, writing simply “we can’t go on like this” as results were still being announced.

South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard says that changing Prime Minister isn’t enough to win back voters, saying it’s ‘got to be about what the Government delivers’. | submit

placeholder image — South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard says that changing Prime Minister isn’t enough to win back voters, saying it’s ‘got to be about what the Government delivers’. | submit

Labour heartland turned turquoise that day, as Nigel Farage’s Reform UK won thousands of seats and took control of 14 councils - including Barnsley, which had been controlled by Labour since it was formed.

However, as Sir Keir resigned and Makerfield MP Andy Burnham took charge of Downing Street, the party is waiting to see whether it can win back traditional voters.

“I don’t think any single event is enough to change people’s minds for the future in perpetuity,” Mayor Oliver Coppard said.

“Ultimately people are going to take a view on how they vote based on how the Government is doing, how their mayor is doing, how their council is doing.

“And frankly, the Prime Minister - now Andy Burnham - has to show that he is able to deliver for those people who voted so decisively for other parties and people in the elections in May.

“That’s got to be a job that he takes on going forward - to reconvince people that they should vote for their Labour mayor, their Labour candidate, their Labour MP, ultimately for a Labour Government.

“So no, one single change doesn’t carry that sort of weight with people, nor should it.

“It’s got to be about what the Government, what I, what their councils deliver - people should judge those things on their merits and I hope that’s what they will do.”