How new PM Andy Burnham will change UK's international role
From northwest England to the global stage: Andy Burnham becomes Britain's new prime minister on Monday. How will the former mayor of Manchester tackle international
From northwest England to the global stage: Andy Burnham becomes Britain's new prime minister on Monday. How will the former mayor of Manchester tackle international affairs? Andy Burnham's political stage has so far been limited to the Manchester region in northern England. There he spent nine years as the city's mayor, earning himself the nickname "King of the North." Under his leadership, the local economy grew faster than the national average while poverty declined in the city's inner districts. Burnham has cultivated an approachable image. He is often seen wearing dark T-shirts and jeans, with simple black-framed glasses that look more functional than fashionable. His relaxed manner and quick wit have made him popular across northern England, where he recently won a parliamentary by-election by a landslide, securing a seat in the House of Commons. On Monday, July 20, following his appointment as Labour Party leader, he will move into Downing Street as prime minister, replacing Keir Starmer after just two years in office. Nearly all Labour MPs back him, hoping he can halt the rise of Nigel Farage and his anti-immigration, right-wing populist party, Reform UK. Now a new chapter begins for the "King of the North." Foreign policy has played only a minor role in his career until now, but he must quickly establish himself as an international player. "I don't know him," US President Donald Trump said recently when journalists asked about Burnham, adding that he believed he was "the mayor of a small city." Burnham, however, can hardly afford to dwell on the dismissive remark, given the long list of foreign policy challenges that awaits him.
US, UK praise their special relationship To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Commitment to allies, criticism of Israel Britain is closely tied to the United States through the Five Eyes intelligence alliance and depends more heavily than many other European countries on security cooperation with Washington. An open conflict with Trump would therefore carry risks. "The United States is an indispensable partner for Britain, both for its service-based economy and for its security," says Mihir Sharma of the London-based Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR). Under Starmer, relations with Trump had become strained after London initially refused to allow the United States to use British military bases for strikes on Iran. Trump recently criticized the British prime minister, saying Starmer was "no Winston Churchill." On the Middle East, however, Burnham may steer a new course. He has pledged to increase pressure on the Israeli government, adopting tougher sanctions and banning trade in goods from illegal settlements. He has also apologized for Britain's initial support of Israel's military campaign in Gaza. In an article for The Times, Burnham reaffirmed Britain's commitment to its leadership role and to maintaining its existing alliances. Britain's security, he wrote, is directly linked to Ukraine's, suggesting that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy can expect as much support from Burnham as from Starmer. Alongside France and Germany, Starmer had played a leading role in Europe's so-called coalition of the willing.
The BriefWire