Andy Burnham has defended his past comments about Donald Trump, in which he branded the US President's politics "poisonous", as his team prepares for a potential first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders.
The Prime Minister's team is understood to be preparing for the encounter after Mr Burnham said he wanted to attend the UN general assembly in New York next month. As Mayor of Greater Manchester, Mr Burnham had insisted that the President would not be welcome in the city and that he had a "poisonous" politics.
PM defends style ahead of potential talks
Asked about the comments, the PM told Channel 5 news: "Well, [Mr Trump's] said things as well, and everyone says things as politicians.
"In the moment you meet people where they're at, and you find a connection with people, and that's always been my style.
"I've had a habit of saying what I feel over the years and I'll continue to do that.
"But, at the same time, I am somebody who works with people, tries to find common ground, and obviously that's what I should be doing in this job in the British public's interest, and I will always take that approach.
"So, I'm looking forward actually to my first meeting. We had a good phone call on my first day in office and looking forward to meeting in person."
Ukraine support and UN summit plans
Mr Burnham is said to be keen to attend the annual UN summit, being held between September 22 and 28, after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Monday. During his first overseas trip he pledged to help drum up more international support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.
Mr Burnham told Bloomberg while in Kyiv: "I'm looking forward to going to New York in September."
A face-to-face meeting between the US President and the Prime Minister is speculative. But British officials are understood to already be planning for the first encounter.
Following his meeting with Mr Zelenskyy, Mr Burnham said: "I've not fully confirmed the details yet, but it's likely I will go, particularly after today's discussion.
"Leaving today, I'm quite clear what I need to do in the next few weeks."
He insisted that allies "need to go further together" and there "is an urgent need for air defence support" for Ukraine.
Defence group meeting set for September
It comes as Defence Secretary, Wes Streeting, is set to co-chair a meeting of the Ukraine defence contact group, which includes all 32 Nato members and 25 other countries, in September. The group coordinates the supply of military assistance.
