Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he will prioritise the UK's national interest in his interactions with US President Donald Trump, even if that means expressing disagreement.
Phone Call with Trump
Burnham and Trump spoke over the phone on Monday, within an hour of Burnham arriving at Downing Street. Downing Street described the 20-minute conversation as "extremely warm."
Speaking to the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg, Burnham said: "I can't at any point say that I won't take a different opinion from him [Donald Trump], that I will need to voice a different idea that is right for Britain." He added: "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."
After the call, Trump posted on Truth Social that Burnham "has got a big job ahead of him, but he will be able to do it" and pledged that the US "will be there to help."
Defence and Iran
Relations between Washington and the previous government under Sir Keir Starmer became fractious over the Iran conflict. New Defence Secretary Wes Streeting is seeking to improve ties, working with the US to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and investing in the UK military.
Streeting told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips on Sky News: "I was clear that we've not supported offensive action in Iran and we won't support offensive action in Iran, but there are plenty of things that we can and should do together when it comes to securing the Strait of Hormuz, in making sure that Iran doesn't develop nuclear weapons, in terms of investing in our capability and Nato's capability." He conceded "it's hard to undertake that work … while hostilities continue, and that's why every effort is being made, particularly by allies in the regions, to try and bring about the conditions where we can achieve that."
Streeting said "you don't suck up" to Trump's administration and declined to say whether he trusts the president, stating: "I don't know him, but I do trust the United States."
A source close to Streeting said he shared a "very warm conversation" with US counterpart Pete Hegseth, discussing ideas for an international conference, though no summit details have been finalised.
Defence Spending and No Early Election
Burnham refused to commit to a timetable for increasing defence spending to 3% of GDP, noting the resignation of former Defence Secretary John Healey, who cited a lack of commitment to spending that amount by 2030. Burnham said: "The first challenge facing us both is to ensure that the defence investment plan is fully funded and that's the thing that's right in front of us and we need to work that through as we go towards the budget later this year."
Healey had accused former chancellor Rachel Reeves and Sir Keir of risking national security over the defence plan. Starmer had pledged a £15 billion increase, putting the UK on a trajectory to 3% of GDP in the next parliament, but below the Nato target of 3.5% by 2035. Burnham told reporters on Wednesday that he and Healey wanted to "honour" Nato commitments.
Streeting said it is for the chancellor to set out how to hit the target in the budget, emphasising reform: "One of the reasons the Prime Minister's asked me to do this job is because I'm a moderniser" and vowed to "spend money wisely."
Elsewhere, Burnham ruled out an early general election, stating: "There's no early general election. I don't think people want it." He added: "I just think what I most need to do is get Britain focused on getting the country back where it should be."
