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UK PM Andy Burnham says he won’t hesitate to challenge Donald Trump if Britain’s interests demand it, while ruling out an early general election before 2029.
UK PM Andy Burnham says he won’t hesitate to challenge Donald Trump if Britain’s interests demand it.
Andy Burnham has made it clear that while he wants to maintain a positive working relationship with US President Donald Trump, Britain’s interests will always come first even if that means publicly disagreeing with the American leader.
In his first major interview as prime minister, Burnham said he would not hesitate to challenge Trump whenever he believed it was necessary for the UK. He stressed that defending Britain’s national interest is the first duty of any prime minister.
“I can’t at any point say that I won’t take a different opinion from him, that I will need to voice a different idea that is right for Britain,” Burnham told the BBC. Asked directly whether he would call out Trump if required, he replied: “Of course.”
Warm First Meeting, But No Clear Answer on Trust
Although Burnham described his first conversation with Trump as “really warm,” he carefully avoided saying whether he trusted the US president.
Asked twice about trust, the prime minister sidestepped the question, saying the world is changing rapidly and leaders have to respond as situations unfold.
“It’s a changing world, isn’t it, and you just obviously have to call things as they develop,” he said.
Burnham also said becoming prime minister would not distance him from ordinary people. He insisted he intends to remain connected to the public, saying that staying close to people has always been one of his biggest strengths and that would not change in office.
PM Voices Concern Over Iran Conflict
Burnham also acknowledged that he had been uneasy about Trump’s decision to start the conflict with Iran.
He said he had “concern” over the move and made it clear he would never hold back from expressing his views whenever he believed it was the right thing for Britain.
“You have to defend your own national interest before anything else,” he said, adding that this is what the job of prime minister demands.
No Timeline Yet on 3% Defence Spending Goal
The prime minister also refused to commit to a date for increasing Britain’s defence spending to 3% of GDP, despite growing pressure over the issue.
The target became a major political talking point after Chancellor John Healey resigned from the previous government, arguing that unless the UK committed to spending 3% of GDP on defence by 2030, the country’s security would be at risk.
Burnham said he appointed his new chancellor fully aware of Healey’s position on defence spending. However, he insisted the government’s immediate priority is ensuring that its defence investment plan is fully funded before making further commitments.
“The first challenge facing us both is to ensure that the defence investment plan is fully funded,” Burnham said.
When pressed again on the 3% target, he replied: “We’ve got to work out the way of doing that.”
No Early Election, Says Burnham
Putting speculation to rest, Burnham also ruled out holding an early general election before 2029.
“I’m going to rule it out… I don’t think people want it,” he said, adding that his government’s focus is not on another election but on “getting the country back where it should be.”
London, United Kingdom (UK)
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