Andy Burnham has formally become the UK’s next prime minister, prompting fresh scrutiny over how he may deal with Donald Trump.
Buckingham Palace confirmed the change, with Sky News reporting that King Charles asked Burnham to form a government and that he accepted.
Before returning to Westminster, Burnham spent nine years as Mayor of Greater Manchester, serving from 2017 until he stepped down in order to contest a by-election.
His by-election win was followed by Keir Starmer’s announcement that he would resign as prime minister, triggering a Labour leadership race.
Under party rules, anyone seeking to enter the contest needed nominations from 20 percent of Labour MPs — currently 81 of the party’s 403 MPs — before the membership could vote.
That membership ballot never became necessary. Burnham secured backing from 349 Labour MPs, leaving no route for a rival to reach the nomination threshold and effectively sealing his path to Downing Street.
Attention is now turning to what kind of international posture Burnham will take, especially when it comes to the UK’s relationship with the US and President Trump.
Burnham’s past comments suggest he is likely to approach that relationship cautiously. He has repeatedly warned about the direction of US politics, and has used it as a warning sign for Britain rather than as a model to follow.
In the wake of the 2021 attack on the US Capitol, Burnham also posted that any UK politician who had given Trump the time of day should be ashamed, sharpening the sense that he has long been sceptical of the former president.
One indication of Burnham’s thinking emerged during the Makerfield by-election campaign that brought him back into parliament.
At the time, he pointed to the political division and instability he sees in the US during Trump’s second stint in the White House.
While the remarks were likely aimed chiefly at Britain’s own political climate, they also hinted that Burnham may not see eye to eye with Trump.
“Politics is getting more polarized,” Burnham said on June 13. “And the path we’re on, if we are not careful, is a path towards the politics of the United States of America. A polarized, poisonous politics where people in communities don’t work together anymore.”
Burnham has also rejected proposals from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage to reshape the NHS along the lines of the American healthcare system.
“We don’t want a US-style health system in this country,” Burnham said.
That said, Trump’s relationship with Starmer appeared to improve over time.
‘lovely man’
‘sort of a friend of mine.
Even so, Trump also attacked Starmer’s record in office.
“I wish him well, but he’s got two problems: energy and immigration, and crime, but energy and immigration, you know, he’s really hurt himself very, very badly.”
Energy policy could still prove to be one area where Burnham and Trump share some similar interests.
The BBC previously reported that Burnham was considering plans to allow new oil and gas licences in the North Sea.
Trump welcomed that suggestion on Truth Social.
“The People of Aberdeen, in Scotland, are dancing in the streets because the new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has stated that he will be opening up, all the way, the invaluable North Sea Oil!”
However, the Financial Times later reported that Burnham is expected to stick with the existing government policy that blocks new licences, meaning the issue could still become a sticking point between London and Washington.
Burnham has also signalled that, whatever the foreign policy headlines, his immediate priority will be domestic reform. In recent speeches, he has focused on fixing social care, tackling regional inequality and restoring trust in politics, suggesting he may prefer to judge US ties through a practical, not ideological, lens.