Andy Burnham risks row with Donald Trump ahead of meeting as new PM ‘won’t bend the knee like Starmer’

Andy Burnham is facing the prospect of a tense first face-to-face meeting with Donald Trump, after a senior British official warned the new prime minister will not “bend the knee” to the President as Sir Keir Starmer did.

The Prime Minister is due to meet Mr Trump in New York next Tuesday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, in what will be his first encounter with the US leader.

The meeting is expected to be lower-key than Sir Keir's first encounter with Mr Trump in September 2024, but officials acknowledge Mr Burnham’s more direct approach could create friction with a President known for reacting sharply to criticism.

One British diplomat said Mr Burnham would not “bend the knee in the way Starmer did”, while another official said he would not be going to “kiss the ring”.

Mr Burnham himself has said he will “say what I feel” to the President while attempting to “find a connection”, with the two leaders expected to discuss Ukraine and wider security concerns.

The Prime Minister visited Ukraine last month and is expected to press Mr Trump over continued American military support, including Patriot missile supplies.

Tension could brew as Mr Trump has criticised Britain’s digital services tax and its approach to technology regulation, while disagreements remain over North Sea oil and gas, defence spending and the future of the Chagos Islands agreement.

The meeting also comes as Britain seeks stronger relationships with European allies while continuing to depend heavily on the United States for defence and security.

Burnham therefore faces a delicate balancing act - maintaining a working relationship with Mr Trump without adopting a submissive style associated with Sir Keir's early dealings with the President.

As one former British official put it, the relationship could change dramatically “in the space of two weeks”.

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Reform pledge immigration spot checks and £10k fines for illegal entrants at Irish border

Reform has said it would bring in new immigration spot checks at the Irish land border and fine transport firms £10,000 per passenger found to be entering Northern Ireland illegally.

MP Danny Kruger will tell the DUP conference later today that the move aims to stop “illegal and unvetted dangerous criminals” using the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland as a backdoor route to the UK.

But he will insist it is “not a border check”.

The party is pledging to bring in immigration officers to carry out spot checks of buses and trains crossing between north and south, with money collected from the £10,000 fines put towards funding deportations and further border enforcement.

Mr Kruger is expected to say: “Illegal and unvetted dangerous criminals, who cross into Northern Ireland are abusing the soft Irish border, using it as a backdoor route into the UK.

“The absence of checkpoints at the border does not remove the requirement to have a right to enter. Almost all illegal movement from the Republic into Northern Ireland is by scheduled coach or train, arriving at a handful of terminals.”

They would target terminals including Belfast, Newry, Banbridge and Sprucefield.

Mr Kruger is set to say: “We will impose a civil penalty of £10,000 per passenger on any bus or rail operator for each illegal immigrant transported into Northern Ireland.

“This is not a border check, it will be for operators to determine their own approach. The £10,000 fine will fund the deportation of the illegal migrants and further border enforcement.”

He will also call on the Irish government to share more data with the Home Office and introduce measures at Dublin Airport to stop anyone who is not an Irish or British citizen from boarding public transport heading north.

“The Common Travel Area and soft border is a hard-won compromise after decades of conflict. This pillar of the peace process is now being exploited by illegal migrants seeking to break into Britain,” he will say.

Lib Dem MP concedes party is 'struggling for relevance' and failing to convey vision for Britain

A Liberal Democrat MP has warned that her party is “struggling for relevance” and failing to offer voters a “coherent picture of the country we are trying to create”.

In a new essay shared with PoliticsHome, South Cotswolds MP Roz Savage argues that her party must “rediscover” its “insurgent spirit”, rather than become “the polite custodians of a system that leaves people feeling powerless”.

The essay, Liberalism Alive, was published just days before the Liberal Democrats’ conference in Brighton this weekend, where members are due to debate a new strategy document intended to broaden the party’s appeal.

Although Ms Savage does not directly name party leader Ed Davey or call for a change in leadership, her intervention comes amid growing pressure on Mr Davey to set out a more distinctive political offer to voters.

A Liberal Democrat spokesman rejected the suggestion that the party lacks relevance, insisting that it is a “serious national force” and is “fighting to change politics so that we can change our country”.

Andy Burnham keen to 'take further steps to deepen the relationship with Europe'

Andy Burnham has used a meeting with Irish counterpart Micheál Martin to push for deeper ties between the UK and the European Union.

He said the relationship with Ireland “matters so much on every single level”, and that it was “very fitting” for Mr Martin to be the first head of government to visit because of the close ties between the North West and Ireland.

Mr Martin said he looked forward to the UK having a “stronger and closer” relationship with the EU, with Ireland currently holding the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Mr Burnham said: “Close to home, as co-custodians of the Good Friday Agreement, we are working together to uphold its principles as we approach the 30th anniversary next year.

“In Europe, we are looking forward to a UK-EU summit later this year and, with Ireland in the presidency, wanting to take further steps to deepen the relationship with Europe.”

Mr Burnham added: “Here in the North West, but across the UK, so many people have Irish connections and they will be so pleased to see you with us today. So you are extremely welcome. I’m really pleased that you’re our first visitor here.”

Mr Martin said it had been a “very challenging and difficult week” for Mr Burnham following the death of his father Roy and “I think your sense of duty shines through”.

He said that “in a global world marked by a lot of uncertainty” it was important for the two close neighbours to have “very strong engagement”.

Irish PM arrives at No10 North in first meeting with Andy Burnham

Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin has arrived for a meeting with Andy Burnham at No10 North in Manchester, as the first world leader to be hosted at the new building.

It's the first time the two leaders have met, with the pair expected to discuss how they can strengthen the relationship between the two countries.

Later, they will visit a local Irish community centre and speak to representatives from the Irish community.

His visit follows Mr Burnham's meetings with Canadian PM Mark Carney and NATO secretary general Mark Rutte.

MPs to scrutinise UK’s ‘dismal record’ in Eurovision Song Contest

The UK’s “dismal record” in the Eurovision Song Contest will be scrutinised by MPs after years of lacklustre results.

Look Mum No Computer came in last place at this year’s contest with just one point.

In both 2024 and 2025, acts Olly Alexander and Remember Monday received points from the jury, but no points from the public.

The UK’s best results in recent years were Sam Ryder, who finished in second place with Spaceman in 2022, and Jade Ewan, who came in fifth place with It’s My Time in 2009.

The Digital, Media and Sport Committee will hold a state of play inquiry into the selection of the UK’s entry following a callout for ideas earlier this year.

Committee chairwoman Dame Caroline Dinenage told BBC News: “We want to get to the bottom of who chooses our entrant, on what basis and whether our dismal record of achievement in recent years is the result of bad song choice, weak performance … or something else.

“This application interested us because of the UK’s reputation for scoring ‘nul points’, coming bottom, or close to bottom, in recent years at Eurovision, despite having world-class song writers and musicians.”

Labour MP insists stance with EU 'will not change' when probed on Ireland diplomacy

Sarah Jones, Policing Minister, has rejected claims the Labour Government is attempting to realign the UK with the European Union, praising the Prime Minister's diplomacy with bloc counterparts.

It comes as Andy Burnham hosts Irish prime minister Taoiseach Micheal Martin in No10 North today, while Chancellor John Healey pushes for closer Eu ties in Dublin.

Ms Jones told GB News: "Our relationship with our Irish counterparts is always very important", she said, adding that the Government wasn't trying to change the UK's status in the EU, but rather is "rebuilding relationships".

She continued: "I don't think anyone should be nervous about our Prime Minister doing what everyone expects him to do by meeting with our friends and allies, and talking about how we can work together.

"I think the Prime Minister has been really clear in terms of wanting those relationships to be strong so that we can trade together. Our status in the EU isn't going to change, but we need to make the most of the opportunities we have."

John Healey to push for closer EU partnership on tech, defence and manufacturing in race against China

Chancellor John Healey will press EU finance ministers not to shut the UK out of a plan to protect the bloc’s industries from unfair competition as he meets counterparts in Dublin today.

He will push for closer partnerships on tech, defence and manufacturing at the Ecofin meeting.

And he is set to appeal to the EU to design its made in Europe procurement agenda in a way that “lands a good deal for all” instead of “erecting new barriers”, according to Treasury sources.

He will also tell his counterparts it is important to “learn lessons” after the collapse of talks on the prospect of the UK joining the EU defence loans scheme, security action for Europe (Safe).

The made in Europe scheme, which is progressing through the European Parliament as part of its industrial accelerator act, is designed to protect the continent’s manufacturing from global competition, especially from China.

It would give EU firms priority for public contracts and subsidies.

Mr Healey said: “The next chapter of Britain’s growth story will be written in more places.

“To me, closer ties with the EU means British businesses – wherever they are based across the UK – get better access to both the supply chains and the customers they need to grow.”

Irish PM to become first world leader to visit No10 North today

Ireland's Prime Minister will become the first international leader to visit Number 10 North later today.

Andy Burnham will host Taoiseach Micheal Martin in Manchester, which he described as a "historic moment and a proud day" for the city.

It will be the first time the two leaders have met, and the pair are expected to discuss how they can strengthen the relationship between the two countries.

Andy Burnham said: "There is so much we can achieve together: from our shared commitment to the Good Friday Agreement, to trade, to working with Europe and supporting Ukraine.

"We are the closest of friends, and I look forward to further strengthening that friendship."