The appointment of Andy Burnham as the new prime minister of the United Kingdom brings to the fore a host of global issues that could realign Britain’s standing with the United States and Europe, according to Northeastern experts on British politics and international affairs. Burnham’s ascent to Number 10 Downing Street comes as relations between the U.K. and U.S. have become fractious and Britain negotiates a new relationship with the European Union following Brexit. In addition, the U.K. has taken a leading role in European efforts to bolster support for Ukraine against Russian invasion. But for watchers of Britain’s foreign policy, much remains unclear as the former mayor of Manchester takes leadership of the nation and the helm of the ruling Labor Party, said Josephine Harmon, assistant professor in Political Science at Northeastern University London.
“Burnham is untested regarding his approach to managing relations with the Trump administration,” said Harmon. He is also untested in many policy areas, she added, noting that Burnham does not have a specific or articulated set of policies that he intends to take to the country.” Amid this unknown, Northeastern experts aimed to shed light on what might be expected from Britain’s seventh prime minister in the last 10 years, who arrived promising to deliver “the most significant change” seen in four decades of British politics.
