Burnham faces challenge of managing Trump relationship, article suggests
8 reported2 unconfirmed
A Guardian opinion piece by Gaby Hinsliff examines the foreign policy challenges facing Andy Burnham, who the article describes as having become Britain’s official prime minister-in-waiting. The article states that Burnham made his first break with predecessor Keir Starmer by apologizing for Labour’s handling of the war in Gaza, saying the government should have called for a ceasefire earlier and should increase pressure on Israel. The piece raises questions about how Burnham will deal with U.S. President Donald Trump, whom the article notes dismissed Burnham as “the mayor of a town.” It reports that Burnham committed to the 3.5% NATO target for defense spending and to keeping Jonathan Powell as national security adviser. The article also references a book by former Foreign Office minister Tobias Ellwood titled “Ten Steps to Prevent World War Three,” which depicts a future where conflicts are routine and the rules-based world order has been bulldozed. The piece concludes that Burnham will need to master the “art of titration” in foreign policy, measuring each policy shift carefully.
What’s reported
Andy Burnham is described as having become Britain’s official prime minister-in-waiting.
Burnham apologized over Starmer’s head for Labour’s handling of the war in Gaza, saying the government should have called for a ceasefire earlier and should increase pressure on Israel.
Donald Trump dismissed Burnham as “the mayor of a town.”
Burnham committed to the 3.5% NATO target for defense spending and to keeping Jonathan Powell as national security adviser.
The article references Tobias Ellwood’s book “Ten Steps to Prevent World War Three,” which imagines a 2040 scenario where conflicts are routine and the rules-based world order has collapsed.
The article mentions that Canada’s prime minister, Mark Carney, is telling the Burnham camp that the old America isn’t coming back.
The article states that frustration was palpable at the NATO summit in Ankara, where Trump threatened to ban trade with Spain, confirmed his desire to own Greenland, and resumed bombing of Iran.
The article says Starmer bequeaths a mess over defense spending and the special relationship to Burnham.
Open questions
How Burnham will pay for the 3.5% NATO defense spending target is not explained in the article.
The article does not specify how Burnham will balance policy on Gaza with the U.S. relationship.
Key figures
Andy Burnham, described as Britain’s prime minister-in-waiting
Keir Starmer, predecessor
Donald Trump, U.S. president
Mark Carney, Canada’s prime minister
Andy Haldane, adviser to Carney
Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s prime minister
Tobias Ellwood, former Foreign Office minister and soldier, author of “Ten Steps to Prevent World War Three”
David Miliband, former foreign secretary under Gordon Brown
Gaby Hinsliff, Guardian columnist
Sources: The Guardian
