Newsletters
New British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he may "take a different opinion" from U.S. President Donald Trump and would "put Britain's interests first" in dealings with the American leader.
In excerpts released Sunday from a BBC interview conducted Friday, Burnham said his first call with Trump, held just hours after he replaced Keir Starmer in Downing Street on Monday, was "warm."
"Obviously, we will continue to build the relationship as we go forward," Burnham told the broadcaster in his first media interview since taking power.
"It's a changing world ... and you just have to obviously call things as they develop," he said.
"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. And I will do that."
Burnham, 56, is a veteran figure in the center-left ruling Labour Party and served as mayor of Greater Manchester in northern England for nine years from 2017.
He twice declined to directly answer whether he trusts Trump.
The U.K.'s new leader also said he would "of course" be willing to call out the U.S. president if needed.
"You have to defend your own national interest before anything else," he said.
"That's what you're required to do if you're to do this job properly. I will always put Britain's interest first."
Following Monday's phone call, Trump wrote on Truth Social that Burnham "has got a big job ahead of him, but he will be able to do it."
He said the United States "will be there to help."
However, in remarks last month, Trump described Burnham as "extremely liberal."
Trump had a sometimes fractious relationship with Starmer, which soured in particular over the Iran conflict.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
0 min read
1 min read
