Does the way you speak in public, whether formally or informally, affect your chances of success as a leader? Which is more important, the message itself or the way that the message is delivered?
Keir Starmer and Andy Burnham have completely opposite public speaking styles, creating a fascinating contrast between Westminster precision and northern emotional connection. While Starmer uses an institutional, legalistic approach, Burnham leans into a high-energy, empathetic style.
Starmer & Burnham: Two Completely Different Public Speaking Styles
Ever watched two political heavyweights deliver speeches back-to-back and wondered how they can sound like they belong to different universes?
Welcome to the ultimate public speaking showdown: Prime Minister Keir Starmer versus Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.
Both are significant political beasts, but their communication strategies are worlds apart. One speaks like he is presenting a complex case to a high court judge, while the other sounds like he is rallying the team at a local football match.
Let’s look at their distinct public speaking styles, examining the stark differences, and figure out which approach actually wins the hearts and minds of the public.
The Starmer Style – “The Methodical Prosecutor”
Before entering politics, Keir Starmer was the Director of Public Prosecutions. It shows. When Starmer stands at a podium, he isn’t there to entertain you; he is there to brief you.
Sir Keir is an iMA High Green, a personality profile based on the iMA behavioural assessment that identifies analytical, persistent, systematic and task-oriented communication styles. He enjoys problem solving, perfecting processes and working towards tangible results. High Greens research, make comparisons, determine risk, calculate margins of error and then take action.
Characteristics:
- The Forensic Focus: Starmer treats a speech like a legal brief. He relies heavily on data, timelines, policy details, and structured arguments.
- Measured Delivery: His tone is consistently calm, serious, and low-risk. He rarely raises his voice or uses sweeping, dramatic gestures.
- The Intellectual Appeal: He speaks directly to the listener’s logic and intellect, aiming to project competence, stability, and control.
The Burnham Brand – “The Passionate Politician”
Andy Burnham, dubbed “King of the North,” operates on an entirely different emotional frequency. Burnham’s style is built around shared identity, urgency, and raw passion.
Andy is an iMA High Yellow. This means that Andy Burnham is an outgoing, friendly and enthusiastic ideas person who excels in getting others excited about his vision. High Yellows are fast paced, high energy and deal with people in a positive upbeat way; they are eternal optimists that can influence people and build alliances to accomplish their goals.
Characteristics:
- The Emotional Hook: Burnham leads with empathy. He frequently uses stories about everyday people, local communities, and fairness.
- High-Energy Delivery: His voice modulates fiercely. He leans forward, uses expressive hand gestures, and lets his natural regional accent and warmth do the heavy lifting.
- The Relatable Appeal: He positions himself as an outsider fighting the system, making his audience feel heard, validated, and fired up.
The Big Differences
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Battle of the Styles: Which One is More Beneficial?
Neither style is inherently “better,” but they serve entirely different purposes. Depending on the political climate, one style can easily overshadow the other.
Why Burnham’s Style Can Win the Day
In an era driven by social media clips and short attention spans, Andy Burnham’s emotional style often has the upper hand.
- Authenticity sells: People connect with human vulnerability and passion far quicker than they do with a 10-point policy plan.
- Share ability: Burnham’s high-energy rants and passionate defences of local communities make for perfect, viral video snippets.
- Building trust: When people are frustrated with politics, they want a speaker who sounds angry for Burnham delivers that effortlessly.
Andy Burnham follows in the footsteps of three other High Yellow Prime Ministers; Tony Blair, David Cameron and Boris Johnson.
Why Starmer’s Style Still Matters
However, Keir Starmer’s legalistic approach holds immense value during a crisis.
- The authority factor: When a country faces economic turbulence or geopolitical tension, a fiery speech can sometimes feel performative. Starmer’s quiet, serious competence projects the image of a safe pair of hands.
- Surviving scrutiny: Because Starmer’s speeches are built on watertight logic, they are much harder for opponents and journalists to dismantle.
The above can also have applied to both Gordon Brown and Teresa May ( High Greens) but as they were sandwiched between High Yellow predecessors and successors, as Prime Minister, their speaking styles did not allow them to project their ideas to a wider audience. Their style of delivery did not captor the imagination of the public in the same way that Tony Blair, David Cameron and Boris Johnson were able to do.
Conclusion
If you want to win an intellectual argument, structure a bulletproof policy, or steady a rocky ship, Keir Starmer’s methodical style is highly beneficial; however;
Seth Godin in his always brilliant blog recently points out that it is feelings that motivates people; our initial response to a subject, especially a so called political issue, is to react emotionally and not rationally. The policies can follow once they have an emotional buy-in. Godin says;
When in doubt, don’t argue about the facts. Look for the feelings. Everyone has their own feelings, whether you agree with them or not. When we validate feelings, we create connection that gives us a chance to examine the facts together.
Here is the link to the full blog:
https://seths.blog/2026/07/facts-and-feelings/
So if you want to win over a crowd, build a loyal movement, and make people feel seen, Andy Burnham’s passionate, empathetic style takes the crown. The most successful modern communicators are the ones who can bridge the gap – mixing.
Starmer’s undeniable substance with Burnham’s magnetic soul.
The way you speak and your style of delivery is therefore very important. One of my key missions is to train and coach those people who wish to speak and be impactful when they do speak so that their efforts do not go to waste. By developing a skill that walks around with you and can be called upon at a moment’s notice is a skill worth having.
https://www.ashleyboroda.com/training-courses/impactful-presentation-training/
