Trump Signals a Manchester Visit After a “Very Good” First Call
Downing Street and the White House confirmed details of Mr Burnham’s first call as Prime Minister with Donald Trump, who called it a “very good conversation” and signalled the pair would meet before long. The two discussed North Sea oil, the military alliance and the de-mining of the Strait of Hormuz. Mr Burnham said he hoped to show the president “what Manchester has to offer” — a striking warming days after Mr Trump branded Britain a “Poverty Stricken Disaster”.
The readout marks an early diplomatic test passed, at least on tone. Mr Trump, who had savaged the country’s energy policy, struck a conspicuously friendly note, writing that Britain’s new leader “has got a big job ahead of him… and, of course, the U.S.A. will be there to help”. North Sea licensing remains a fault line: Mrs Badenoch has urged Mr Burnham to approve the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields, while the Prime Minister insists his manifesto stance is unchanged. Mr Burnham also spoke to President Zelensky and President Macron about Ukraine, Hormuz and energy — a brisk opening lap of alliance diplomacy for a domestically focused premier. Watch whether the Manchester invitation firms into a state visit.