Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he would be prepared to publicly disagree with US President Donald Trump if he believed it was necessary to protect Britain’s national interests.
In his first major interview since becoming prime minister, Burnham told the BBC that he had enjoyed a warm initial conversation with Trump but refused to give an unqualified assurance that he trusted the US president.
“It’s a changing world isn’t it, and you just obviously have to call things as they develop,” Burnham said when asked about his level of trust in Trump.
He said there could be circumstances in which he would need to take a different position from the US president.
“I can’t at any point say that I won’t take a different opinion from him, that I will need to voice a different idea that is right for Britain,” Burnham said.
Asked whether he would directly challenge Trump if he believed it was the right course of action, Burnham replied: “Of course.”
“You have to defend your own national interest before anything else. That’s what you’re required to do if you’re to do this job properly,” he said.
Burnham also expressed concern about Trump’s decision to begin military action against Iran, saying he would not hesitate to state his view if he believed the US approach was wrong.
The comments come as Britain continues to manage its relationship with Washington amid growing international tensions and debate over the country’s defence commitments.
Asked about the pledge to increase defence spending to 3 per cent of gross domestic product, Burnham said the government still needed to determine how the target would be achieved.
“We’ve got to work out the way of doing that,” he said.
The prime minister also ruled out holding an early general election before 2029, ending speculation that voters could be asked to return to the polls sooner than expected.
“I’m going to rule it out. I don’t think people want it,” Burnham said.
He said his priority was to focus on “getting the country back where it should be” rather than preparing for another national vote.
The Conservatives said they were ready to fight an election whenever it was called, according to Philp.
Burnham also said his political approach would remain centred on maintaining close contact with the public.
“My strength is remaining close to people, close to the public, that will not change as prime minister,” he said.
His remarks signal a willingness to maintain close ties with Washington while making clear that Britain’s interests would remain the central consideration in decisions involving the US administration.
