Trump describes Burnham as the 'mayor of a town' and 'extremely liberal'
BBC • • general
Key Points:
- Donald Trump described Andy Burnham as an "extremely liberal" politician unlikely to support further North Sea oil and gas drilling, and referred to him dismissively as "the mayor of a town."
- Burnham, the former Greater Manchester mayor and current MP for Makerfield, is the only candidate to replace Sir Keir Starmer as Labour Party leader and likely next UK prime minister.
- Trump’s comments highlight the diplomatic challenges Burnham would face with the US president, especially as the UK prepares to host the G20 and G7 summits attended by Trump.
- Burnham has previously criticized Trump, refusing to meet him during a planned state visit and condemning his actions and rhetoric, contrasting with some Labour ministers who maintained ties with the Trump administration.
- Energy policy, particularly approval of North Sea oil and gas fields like Jackdaw and Rosebank, will be a key issue for Burnham, with Trump urging increased exploitation of these resources and criticizing the current UK government's renewable energy focus.
