Burnham Vows to Stand Up to Trump and Rules Out Early Poll
In his first major broadcast interview as Prime Minister, Andy Burnham said he was prepared to “stand up to President Trump” and to disagree with him publicly “if it’s right for Britain”, while declining to say he trusted the American president. Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Mr Burnham also ruled out calling an early general election, saying he did not believe the public wanted one.
Having taken office without facing the country, Mr Burnham used the interview to assert his authority and to signal that he would not simply defer to Washington, whose stance on the Iran war and on North Sea oil has drawn him into difficult territory. He refused to say whether he trusted Mr Trump, saying only that he would defend Britain’s national interest. Ruling out an early election is intended to steady his party and the markets after a turbulent first week. Critics will watch whether the tough talk survives contact with Washington. Watch the White House’s response and Mr Burnham’s week ahead.