Minister dismisses Burnham’s past Trump criticism as ‘politics’ as PM and president set to meet this week

A government minister has dismissed Andy Burnham’s previous comments about Donald Trump as “politics” ahead of the prime minister’s expected meeting with the US president.

The prime minister is set to travel to New York for the UN general assembly, marking one of his most important trips abroad since taking over from Sir Keir Starmer .

Mr Burnham will reportedly meet the US president on the sidelines of the event, in what will be their first in-person conversation and a major diplomatic moment.

They will likely discuss a number of tense topics, including the UK’s sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements, Ukraine and the war in the Middle East.

Speaking to broadcasters on Sunday, Labour chairwoman Bridget Phillipson was asked whether the encounter could prove awkward in light of past remarks, including Mr Burnham’s 2021 assertion that “any politician who gave Trump the time of day should be ashamed right now.”

“Look, I think what you’ve just described there is politics, and the president knows that,” Ms Phillipson, who is also equalities minister, told Sky News’s Sunday Morning programme.

Mr Trump has been largely positive about Mr Burnham’s first weeks as prime minister, which comes after relations with his predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer, dramatically deteriorated in the final months of his tenure.

The leaders have spoken twice on the phone since Mr Burnham became prime minister, but have recently been at odds over major issues including the Falkland Islands and Northern Ireland.

During his tenure as the mayor of Manchester, Mr Burnham heavily criticised Mr Trump, insisting he would not be welcome in the city and that he had a “poisonous” politics.

He later climbed down on the comments, telling reporters in August he “tries to find common ground” with other politicians.

“Well, he’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,” he said.

I don't know, I think I see that he was, I guess, the mayor of a town. I hear he's extremely liberal, extremely, so that means he probably won't open up the North Sea

He added that he was “looking forward to meeting in person” and said he had a “good phone call” with the US president on his first day in office.

Shortly before Mr Burnham was confirmed as Britain’s new prime minister, Mr Trump described him as an “extremely liberal” politician who was “mayor of a town”, and "probably won't open up" the North Sea for further oil and gas drilling.