Andy Burnham says he would be prepared to call out Donald Trump to defend Britain’s “national interest before anything else” if it is the right thing to do, in his first major interview as prime minister.
Speaking exclusively to the BBC, Burnham said he had had a good first exchange with Trump, finding him to be “really warm”.
But asked twice if he would trust the US president, he did not say, answering, “it’s a changing world isn’t it, and you just obviously have to call things as they develop”.
In the interview, to be broadcast in full on Monday, he said: “I can’t at any point say that I won’t take a different opinion from him [Trump], that I will need to voice a different idea that is right for Britain.”
Burnham said: “My strength is remaining close to people, close to the public, that will not change as prime minister.”
Asked if he would call out Trump if it was the right thing, he said, “of course”, going on to say: “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.”
Burnham also said he had had “concern” about the president starting the conflict with Iran, and he “wouldn’t hold back from saying what I think is right”.
Responding to Burnham’s comments, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “Clearly, the US is a long standing ally. We need to have good relations with them but if they do something we disagree with, we should honestly say so.”
Credit: bbc.com
