Newly installed UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham extended an invitation to Donald Trump to visit Manchester during their first phone call since Burnham took office. The conversation occurred Monday as one of Burnham's initial duties as the UK's seventh Prime Minister in a decade.
The invitation comes despite Burnham's past strong criticisms of the U.S. President. In April 2019, during Trump's first term, Burnham, then Mayor of Greater Manchester, stated that he would not welcome Trump to the city, calling a potential visit "highly divisive and cause real protests on our streets." He also expressed that many people in Britain would be "deeply unsettled" by Trump's presence. On January 6, 2021, the day of the U.S. Capitol attack, Burnham claimed that U.K. politicians should be "ashamed" of dealing with Trump.
Trump, in turn, has previously described Burnham as "extremely liberal" and referred to him as "the mayor of a town." He also publicly speculated that Burnham would not support North Sea oil exploration. However, Burnham has indicated a willingness to engage with Trump, stating he would "meet him where he's at" while "respecting the office."
Reports suggest Trump accepted the invitation to visit Manchester. The call also touched upon energy policy, with Trump claiming on his Truth Social platform that Burnham had stated he would open up North Sea oil production. Burnham's Labour party manifesto pledged not to issue new North Sea licenses, arguing they would not improve energy security or lower bills while accelerating climate change. However, sources indicate Burnham may be open-minded on the policy, potentially approving projects like the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields where licenses have already been granted, without issuing new ones.
Burnham previously stated he would talk to Trump, though primarily to challenge him. He has expressed a desire to deal with Trump directly and honestly, acknowledging potential disagreements while aiming to maintain the U.K.-U.S. relationship. He noted that Trump's past description of Manchester as "some town" had not been well-received in the city.