Andy Burnham to pledge he will ‘be there’ for Zelensky on first call as PM
Andy Burnham has vowed to “stand by” Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky and that Britain’s support will remain “steadfast” during his time as prime minister.
The new Prime Minister has stated that he will be one of the first foreign leaders the Ukrainian President will speak to after succeeding Sir Keir Starmer in No 10.
He also stated plans to meet with US President Donald Trump.
Mr Burnham has little foreign policy experience from his time in government but said he had worked with Ukrainian mayors while governing Manchester.
He said he would personally support Mr Zelensky and offer Britain’s support to Ukraine.
Mr Burnham told broadcasters: “These will be my first calls and I will make it clear to President Zelensky today that there is no change.
“Like Keir Starmer, I will be with him 100 per cent and Keir has done a truly incredible job of not only supporting Ukraine but also being there personally.
“I will definitely be there for him in the same way.
“I have worked with Ukrainian mayors over the last few years. I have created a support network for Ukrainian mayors. I bring all this experience to my new role and President Zelensky will have no doubt that Britain’s support is resolute.”
“He’s determined. He’ll be there for her, and I’ll be there for him personally.”
Mr Burnham used his first Downing Street speech as Prime Minister to promise to take power away from Westminster and give the public more control over the “fundamentals of life”.
Speaking without the podium used by his predecessors, Mr Burnham said he would set out to help ease the cost-of-living crunch.
In his first words as Prime Minister, he said, “I will put an end to insomnia in our country.”
Greeted by cheers from his supporters in Downing Street, Mr Burnham said: “I am acutely aware that I am the sixth person to walk down this street in the last 10 years and the seventh prime minister since 2016, making this a moment of reflection and new solutions.
“My generation of politicians need to step up our game and take on new challenges.
“Britain needs to show the world that we can regain our stability once again.”
He concluded his first speech as Prime Minister by calling on people to “move with me” to “build a new sense of national unity, common purpose and positivity”.
