Andy Burnham has stood by his previous comments about Donald Trump, claiming that the US president has likewise “said things as well”.
The Prime Minister stressed he would seek to establish “common ground” with the US leader, despite having once described politics in America as “poisonous” and “polarised”.
In an interview with Channel 5 News, he noted a personal “habit of saying what I feel”, promising to continue this approach as Prime Minister.
Earlier this month, Trump stated he expects he and the Prime Minister are “going to have a very good relationship”, while simultaneously alleging that Britain is “a bankrupt country”.
Burnham is preparing to join a delegation of European leaders travelling to the US in September to lobby for Ukraine’s defence.
Should the trip proceed, it will represent Burnham’s first visit to the US since taking over in No 10 in July.
Speaking at a London supermarket on Wednesday, the Prime Minister was asked about earlier critiques of Trump, including past statements while serving as Greater Manchester chief that the president would be unwelcome in the city.
Burnham replied: “Well, he’s said things as well, and everyone says things as politicians. In the moment you meet people where they’re at, and you find a connection with people, and that’s always been my style.
“I’ve had a habit of saying what I feel over the years, and I’ll continue to do that.
“But, at the same time, I am somebody who works with people, tries to find common ground, and obviously that’s what I should be doing in this job in the British public’s interest, and I will always take that approach.
“I’m looking forward actually to my first meeting. We had a good phone call on my first day in office and looking forward to meeting in person.”
Burnham is among a number of prominent Government figures who have previously criticised Trump.
Earlier this month, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband dismissed suggestions that past comments describing Trump as “racist” had damaged relations with the White House.
Miliband insisted those earlier remarks “didn’t come up” during talks with Marco Rubio at the US State Department, which he termed “very productive”.
