Burnham's Trump meeting went TOO WELL — now his left flank is turning on him

From the Newshound archive · first published 24 September 2026.

Andy Burnham's first face-to-face with President Trump at the UN General Assembly in New York drew warm words from the White House — Trump called him a "natural businessperson" and declared the relationship was "doing very well" — but the easy ride has opened a new front against him at home. Left-wing independent MP Zarah Sultana posted a boot-licking image within minutes of the pictures going out, while Green deputy leader Rachel Millward accused him of bowing to Trump over North Sea oil. Burnham's team reportedly admitted relief — "before the meeting, people predicted Trump would tear a strip off him" — but the cosiness has handed his progressive critics exactly the weapon they needed.

Trump publicly embarrassed Burnham twice, dismissing Labour's Chagos Islands deal as 'terrible and ridiculous' and forcing a visibly squirming PM to defend his anti-Israel sanctions on the spot.

Commentators were divided on Burnham's performance — one sketch writer compared him to Ronnie Corbett, another argued he must pick a public fight with Trump to shore up his left flank before any early election.

Kemi Badenoch, fielding questions on LBC, called Burnham a 'gambler' who may 'fancy his chances' at a snap election as soon as December.