Andy Burnham’s first international test awaits when he meets Donald Trump
Andy Burnham is about to get a real taste of the difference between serving as a regional mayor and being Prime Minister of the UK.
On the home front, Burnham has got off to a bright start but storm clouds are gathering, not least because of the increasingly volatile world order.
His predecessor was more comfortable on the international stage than he was on the domestic front. Sir Keir Starmer delivered a masterclass on how to deal with the capricious Donald Trump. The former PM tried to win over the US president without antagonising him.
A similar approach is going to be needed from Burnham when he meets Trump at the UN General Assembly in New York this week.
If Burnham is wondering which buttons to press then he need only cast his mind back to the King’s state visit to the US earlier this year.
President Trump has shown little respect for a lot of institutions, however he clearly admires and respects the Royal Family. Burnham would do well to observe the King’s strategy when it comes to wooing Trump. The soft power of the monarchy is not to be understated.
Foreign policy could have direct consequences for Burnham’s premiership, so while he may want to try and avoid the criticism that Starmer came under for seemingly being too focused on issues abroad, a lack of engagement is not an option.
He must start by focusing on the shared values and principles that Britain has with the US and emphasise that the Special Relationship still remains intact, even if there are diverging views on what it looks like.