Andy Burnham’s Anticipated Foreign-Policy Direction as Britain’s Next Prime Minister

Andy Burnham is expected to preserve the foreign-policy framework set by Labour leader Keir Starmer after the July 2024 election. He will keep Britain’s strong backing for Kyiv that began under former Conservative prime minister Boris Johnson, pursue a closer partnership with the European Union without re-joining the bloc, and adopt a more assertive stance toward Israel in response to the Gaza conflict. At the same time, Burnham faces an uncertain relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly questioned Britain’s defence spending and its position on Iran.

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Burnham has pledged that “British support for Ukraine will not falter,” linking that commitment to NATO and the UK’s nuclear deterrent. On the EU, he seeks “an even closer relationship with countries across Europe” to build on existing UK-EU negotiations, cooperation on illegal migration, counter-terrorism and AI-driven disinformation. Regarding Israel, he says the UK was “too slow to call for a ceasefire” and calls for additional sanctions and a ban on trade in goods from illegal settlements. While he has not yet spoken directly with Trump, Burnham says the trans-Atlantic partnership “will remain critical as our most important defence and security ally” and that any disagreements should be handled “in an upfront manner… respecting the office.”

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Left-wing members of Labour and the Green Party argue that Starmer’s measures—sanctioning Israeli ministers, suspending a free-trade deal and recognising a Palestinian state—do not go far enough. A poll cited in the coverage indicates some voters have shifted from Labour to the Greens, whose leader has accused Israel of committing genocide and urged stronger pressure on the Israeli government.

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• “I am sorry about that. The response has too often not been good enough. We need to do better,” — Andy Burnham, quoted in *The Guardian*

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• “We’ve got to do more to put pressure on the Israeli government,” — Andy Burnham, quoted in *The Guardian*

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• “I think he was the mayor of a city. I’ve heard he’s very liberal,” — Donald Trump, interview

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• “Our relationship with the US will remain critical as our most important defence and security ally.” — Andy Burnham, *The Times*

The Straits Times

• “British support for Ukraine will not falter,” — Andy Burnham, *The Times*

The Straits Times