Keir Starmer’s Warning For Likely Successor Andy Burnham

Keir Starmer has issued a warning to his expected successor Andy Burnham over his approach to foreign policy.

The outgoing prime minister, who was dubbed “never here Keir” by his critics due to his frequent trips abroad, reminded the new MP for Makerfield that he will have to put the same effort into international relations.

He claimed internal issues, like the rising cost of living, are linked directly to the UK’s standing on the world stage.

Burnham, who is currently running uncontested to be the next PM, is expected to focus more on his domestic agenda when he gets into No.10 on July 20.

Speaking to the BBC, Starmer said: “If you’re prime minister and you care about what bills are going to be like in any part of the country, you have to care about finding a lasting solution to the situation in Ukraine, you have to care about what happens in the Strait of Hormuz.”

Vladimir Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine meant European allies stopped buying Russia’s cheap oil exports.

Meanwhile, the US-Israeli strikes on Iran saw Tehran close the Strait of Hormuz, a major shipping lane which transports a fifth of the world’s oil supply.

A strain on international fossil fuels subsequently pushed prices up all over the world, including in the UK.

Starmer said he is “proud” that the UK has been a crucial part in dealing with both of these crises.

“I’m proud that the UK is now regarded as a leader, that other countries look to and want to engage with, and that is in our best interests here at home,” he said. “It’s not sensible to think we can just separate these two things out.”

He added: “The suggestion that in the modern era you could simply split up international and domestic… it just doesn’t make sense, it isn’t true, it isn’t right.”

“Whoever’s my successor is going to face the same global conflict,” Starmer continued. “We keep saying, and it’s true, we’re in a more dangerous and volatile world than we’ve been in for probably most of my lifetime. That’s not just a phase, that’s reality.

“That’s not going to change. And the domestic challenges aren’t going to change.”

Burnham has dodged a lot of scrutiny since winning a seat in parliament by not holding any press conferences.

He invited the public to ask him anything during a Reddit forum on Friday, where he said he would “100%” give the same amount of support to Ukraine as Starmer and wanted to continue his efforts to broker a closer EU relationship.

However, he did not answer any questions about his approach to Donald Trump.

Starmer has committed to staying on as MP for Holborn and St Pancras but promised to “keep my mouth shut” when his replacement takes over, adding that he has “always got on” with Burnham.

The outgoing prime minister had vowed to stay in post after Burnham won the Makerfield by-election last month, but – amid growing pressure from his party – U-turned three days later.

He told the BBC that it was a “really, really tough” decision, adding: “Taking the decision that your political career is over, it is an intensely personal matter, or at least it was for me. I wanted to do that with [my wife] Vic, and that’s what I did.”

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