Labour’s Andy Burnham condemns Trump for bringing ‘instability to the world’ – as mayor risks wrecking Starmer’s careful diplomacy ahead of White House visit_Nhy
Labour’s Andy Burnham has risked derailing Keir Starmer‘s delicate wooing of Donald Trump ahead of his White House trip.
The Manchester Mayor swiped that the US president is bringing ‘instability’ to the world, condemning his ‘out of order’ stance on Ukraine.
Alongside the comments in an interview with the London Economic site, Mr Burnham also posted on social media voicing alarm at America ‘siding with North Korea at the UN’.
The intervention comes as Sir Keir braces for a critical showdown with Mr Trump in Washington on Thursday.
Ministers have been at great pains to avoid direct criticism of the American commander-in-chief despite mounting concerns.
Andy Burnham (pictured) swiped that the US president is bringing ‘instability’ to the world, condemning his ‘out of order’ stance on Ukraine
The intervention comes as Sir Keir (pictured) braces for a critical showdown with Mr Trump in Washington on Thursday
Alongside the comments in an interview with the London Economic site, Mr Burnham also voiced alarm at America ‘siding with North Korea at the UN’
The US took an axe to decades-old alliances at the UN last night – voting with Russia, China and North Korea on resolutions about Ukraine.
The president also used an awkward meeting with Emmanuel Macron in Washington to suggest it will be for Europe to provide security in Ukraine if he strikes a peace deal with Moscow, three years after Putin‘s full-scale invasion.
Mr Trump launched a fresh jibe at another erstwhile ally, calling Canadian premier Justin Trudeau ‘governor’ in a reference to his claim that the country should become a US state.
In another worrying sign for Sir Keir, Mr Trump reiterated his intention of imposing ‘reciprocal’ tariffs over VAT – even though it is a sales tax rather than being levied on imports alone.
However, there was a glimmer of hope as America and Ukraine look to be closing in on a deal to develop rare earth minerals. Supporters say that could incentivise the US to defend Kyiv‘s sovereignty.
In his interview, Mr Burnham warned about the rise of the ‘populist Right’.
‘I think we now have to have a real debate about what that means and the instability that Liz Truss brought to Britain, I think Trump is bringing to the US and the world. So I’m all in favour of having the debate,’ he said.
The president used an awkward meeting with Emmanuel Macron in Washington last night (pictured) to suggest it will be for Europe to provide security in Ukraine if he strikes a peace deal with Moscow
Posting on X today he said: ‘The far right becoming the official opposition in Germany and the US siding with North Korea at the UN.
‘If the warning signs weren’t clear enough, then surely they must be now?’
Mr Burnham also gave a veiled hint at his own leadership ambitions, saying he was open to returning to Westminster in the future.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan is the only other senior figure to have directly attacked Mr Trump.
They have a long-running feud going back a decade.
