𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

The King of the North vs The Don. It’s a title worthy of one of the legendary boxing clashes at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Andy Burnham meets Donald Trump might never live up to Ali versus Frazier but it was a monumental clash of styles all the same.

One, a Cambridge educated, guitar strumming socialist, the other a brash New York real estate developer. Mr Positive taking on Mr Pugnacious in the Big Apple. Burnhamism meets Trumpism did not disappoint.

The two leaders held their first ever face-to-face inside the United Nations gargantuan headquarters – just a few Manhattan blocks away from “The Garden”.

For starters, it was much longer than planned. Always a good sign.

Secondly, a wide range of subjects were discussed – Gaza, the Falklands, the Chagos islands, immigration and the Middle East crisis.

There were jokes, smiles and, at times, a conciliatory tone.

Burnham appeared nervous, gripping his hands together, as the two men faced the cameras.

When Trump is in town anything can happen – he is a political molotov cocktail ready to ignite. Just ask Volodymyr Zelensky.

Burnham’s predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer, also felt the wrath of the Republican strongman.

The two had a short-lived bromance back in 2025 until Trump turned on him.

Starmer has now been shunted to the political tundra.

Burnham may go the same way, but for now he is safe. Trump referred to him as Andy and said the current relationship is “more up” than with Starmer.

He even said Burnham would make a “great Prime Minister”.

The “special relationship” remains intact.