Andy Burnham is facing his biggest test on the world stage yet – a high-stakes first meeting with Donald Trump.
World leaders brace themselves to go toe to toe with the mercurial US President, with the spectre of his Oval Office meltdown at President Zelensky looming in the background. Nerves were high in No10 when Keir Starmer first made the trip last year, but his secret weapon – an offer of a second state visit – smoothed over tensions.
Things are a little different this time. Trump is mired in his disastrous war with Iran, which is driving up prices in the US and damaging his popularity ahead of a tough set of midterms in November.
But despite the problems piling up for the US President, he remains a formidable adversary.