Prime Minister Andy Burnham has brushed off his past comments about Donald Trump as he prepares for their awkward first face-to-face meeting in New York
Andy Burnham is bracing for an awkward first meeting with Donald Trump after previously branding the US President’s brand of politics as “poisonous”.
The Prime Minister flies into New York today for high-stakes talks at the UN General Assembly with his past comments about Trump hanging over him. Back in 2021, when mob violence erupted at the US Capitol, the former Greater Manchester mayor declared that “any UK politician who gave Trump the time of day should be ashamed right now.”
Meanwhile, Trump described Burnham as “extremely liberal” earlier this year and claimed he only knew the Labour PM led a “town”.
As the pair prepare to shake hands in America, Burnham is now desperately trying to laugh off his old insults.
Reflecting on their frosty past while flying across the Atlantic, Burnham said: “Politicians say things throughout their career, but now the important thing is to focus on the moment you are in.
“I did say to the president in our first phone call, I said ‘Mr President, Manchester isn’t some town, this is Manchester.’ And so yes, the right thing to do is to have a laugh about it, isn’t it, and move beyond it.”
Insisting the historic bond between the two nations remains unbreakable, Burnham claimed he genuinely relies on the US leader. Asked point-blank on the plane if he trusted Trump personally, the PM said: “Yes.”
He added: “When you come into this job, you realise how deep this relationship is. We trust our allies. Of course, we do.”
Burnham also took aim at critics who claim Britain is a nation in decline ahead of delivering an address to world leaders at the UN.
He said: “I hear people saying the country is on the slide – we’re the fastest growing in the G7, there’s lots to be proud of, there’s a lot right with the country and I’m going to give a really upbeat message when I speak.”
Setting out his vision for the decade ahead, the PM vowed to focus on fixing the cost-of-living crunch for hard-hit Brits.
He said: “The plan for Britain is about ‘what is our direction over the next 10 years and how do we make life more affordable for people’. That is my main priority, that’s what people are looking for.”