Trump describes Andy Burnham as ‘extremely liberal’

US president’s remarks about Andy Burnham set the stage for a potentially rocky start between the two men

Donald Trump has labelled Andy Burnham “extremely liberal”, in his first public comments about the former Greater Manchester mayor since he emerged as the frontrunner to replace Keir Starmer.

Speaking in the Oval Office on Wednesday, Mr Trump was asked what he knew about Andy Burnham.

For months after being elected in 2024, Starmer had tried to keep Trump onside, proffering him an unprecedented second state visit in 2025, but relations cooled when Britain initially rejected a U.S. request to use British bases for strikes on Iran.