U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday offered a terse appraisal of Andy Burnham, the Welsh-born politician widely expected to become Britain’s next prime minister. Speaking in brief remarks, Trump said he knew little about Burnham, referred to him as a "mayor of a town" and called him "extremely liberal." He added that, in his view, Burnham would probably be unlikely to open the North Sea to additional oil drilling.
Trump's comments reiterated a theme he has raised about Britain's energy policy. He again said Keir Starmer should have opened the North Sea to more oil extraction, but in this instance refrained from some of his more cutting criticisms of the outgoing British leader.
Starmer announced his resignation on Monday amid pressure caused by weak poll ratings and disappointing local election results. For months after his 2024 election victory, Starmer had sought to maintain a cordial relationship with Trump - even offering an unprecedented second state visit in 2025 - but bilateral ties cooled when Britain initially rejected a U.S. request to use British bases for strikes on Iran. The British government later authorised U.S. use of the bases.
Asked specifically about Andy Burnham - the only candidate declared so far to replace Starmer as Labour leader and prime minister - Trump said: "I don't know anything. I see that he was, I guess, the mayor of a town." He added: "I hear he's extremely liberal, extremely, so that means he probably won't open up the North Sea. You know I gave Keir Starmer some pretty good advice, I said open up the North Sea."
Burnham is currently the sole contender in the contest to become Labour leader and prime minister and could be appointed by mid-July if the party proceeds without additional candidates. The comments from the U.S. president come amid a period of political transition in Britain and renewed attention on London’s energy and defence decisions.
Key points
- President Trump described Andy Burnham as "extremely liberal" and suggested he would likely oppose expanding North Sea oil drilling - a stance that touches directly on the energy sector.
- Trump renewed his criticism of Keir Starmer for not opening the North Sea to more drilling, though he moderated other criticisms of the outgoing prime minister following Starmer's resignation.
- Relations between the U.S. and the UK cooled earlier this year when Britain initially denied a U.S. request to use British bases for strikes on Iran; authorization was later granted by Starmer's government. This episode relates directly to defence cooperation.
Risks and uncertainties
- Uncertainty over whether a new prime minister would alter North Sea drilling policy - relevant to the oil and energy sector.
- Questions remain about the stability of U.S.-UK defence coordination after a recent dispute over use of British bases for strikes on Iran, which could affect defence arrangements and related markets.
- Political transition following Starmer's resignation introduces short-term uncertainty for markets and policy direction in areas such as energy and international security.
No additional details about Andy Burnham's policies or plans were provided in the remarks; the assessment by the U.S. president was limited and framed in personal impressions rather than documented policy statements.