Andy Burnham has pledged to openly disagree with Donald Trump when required, stating this in his first major broadcast interview since becoming prime minister.
Burnham’s remarks followed comments from Wes Streeting, the newly appointed defence secretary, who said the Trump administration values partners willing to voice disagreements rather than those who merely acquiesce.
Although Burnham is relatively inexperienced in foreign affairs, he engaged in an extensive conversation with the US president shortly after moving into Downing Street, a call characterised by officials as cordial.
However, as Washington renews its strikes on Iran, the prospect of early friction looms; Burnham continues to uphold the Starmer-era stance of refraining from supporting US offensive actions—a position that has already drawn sharp criticism from Trump.
Appearing on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Burnham remarked, “I cannot rule out taking a view different from Trump’s; I will need to express whatever stance I believe serves Britain’s best interests.”
The prime minister added that, if necessary, he will publicly articulate his disagreements with Trump: “You must prioritise your nation’s interests above all else; that is the essence of performing this role correctly.”
In a Sunday interview with Sky News’ Trevor Phillips programme, Streeting noted that he had discussed Iran with his US counterpart, Pete Hegseth, and had been candid about the ongoing divergences.
He stated, “We have made clear that we do not endorse offensive operations in Iran and will not do so, yet there remain numerous areas where cooperation is both possible and desirable.”
Streeting contended that this candid approach is appreciated by Trump and his team: “The initial step is to avoid ingratiation; my impression is that President Trump and his administration prefer straightforward dialogue rather than flattery.”
When questioned about his trust in the US president, Streeting replied, “I am not personally acquainted with him, but I place my confidence in the United States as a whole.”
He added that his defence portfolio has afforded him a singular perspective on how closely intertwined the UK–US relationship is regarding defence and security.
In his BBC interview, Burnham dismissed the prospect of an early general election aimed at exploiting any polling uplift for Labour, saying, “There will be no premature election; I believe the public does not desire one,” and noting that voters had endorsed a manifesto in 2024.
He continued, “My primary focus is to steer Britain back onto the right course.”
Regarding defence expenditure, Burnham acknowledged that John Healey—the former defence secretary who resigned under Starmer and now serves as chancellor—is eager to raise defence spending to three percent of GDP swiftly, though Burnham declined to specify a timeline.
He explained, “Our immediate priority is to secure full funding for the defence investment plan; this is the pressing issue we must address as we approach the forthcoming budget.”
Streeting told Sky News that, as defence secretary, he feels obligated to ensure any additional budget is expended prudently.
He added, “Longstanding problems persist in defence procurement and value for money. As I told the Ministry of Defence team this week, these concerns are not merely theoretical; spending wisely is both a moral imperative and a necessity given the demands placed on taxpayers.”
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