𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Andy Burnham has insisted he will put the UK’s interests first in his dealings with Donald Trump.

The Prime Minister said he would do this even if it meant disagreeing with the US president.

The pair spoke over the phone on Monday, within an hour of Mr Burnham arriving in Downing Street.

Speaking to the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Mr Burnham said: “I can’t at any point say that I won’t take a different opinion from him [Donald Trump], that I will need to voice a different idea that is right for Britain.”

The new Prime Minister said he would publicly disagree with Mr Trump if necessary, adding: “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.”

After the call, Mr Trump stated in a post on Truth Social that Mr Burnham “has got a big job ahead of him, but he will be able to do it” and pledged that the US “will be there to help”.

Downing Street described the 20-minute conversation as “extremely warm”.

Relations between Washington and Sir Keir Starmer’s government became increasingly fractious over the Iran conflict.

Defence policy remained a key issue during the interview, with the PM also refusing to be drawn on a timetable for increasing spending to 3% of GDP.

Mr Burnham said he was “very aware” of Chancellor John Healey’s position and resignation as Sir Keir’s defence secretary following disagreements over the issue.

He said: “The first challenge facing us both is to ensure that the defence investment plan is fully funded and that’s the thing that’s right in front of us and we need to work that through as we go towards the budget later this year.”

Mr Healey accused the former chancellor, Rachel Reeves, and Sir Keir, of putting the country’s security at risk with a disagreement over the long-awaited defence investment plan.

The former PM had said he would increase defence spending by £15 billion.

This would put the UK on a trajectory for defence spending to hit 3% of GDP in the next parliament, according to Sir Keir, but this would still be below the Nato target of 3.5% by 2035.

It had been speculated that Mr Burnham could increase defence spending to meet Nato’s target.

He told reporters on Wednesday that he and Mr Healey wanted to “honour” the UK’s Nato commitments.

Elsewhere, new Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said he shared “very warm conversation” with his US counterpart Pete Hegseth.

They are thought to have brainstormed ideas for an international conference which allies of the UK and US would attend, but have not yet firmed up the details of a summit.

A source close to Mr Streeting last week said: “The Defence Secretary had a very warm conversation with Secretary Hegseth.

“They discussed the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and how allies can work together.

“They also discussed defence investment and the UK’s commitment to meeting our Nato commitments.”