Sir Keir Starmer has warned Andy Burnham that, as a future prime minister, he would not be able to focus less on global affairs because international events directly affect the UK’s domestic challenges.
Sir Keir Starmer stressed in his first sit-down interview since his resignation that household bills, energy prices, trade and security all depend on international diplomacy.
Andy Burnham has not said he would abandon foreign policy, but his priority would be to govern with a stronger domestic focus while maintaining support for Ukraine, Nato and key alliances.
As Sir Keir’s likely successor, he can be buoyed by the fact that British governments have often pursued transformative domestic reforms during periods of international crisis.
Labour’s Clement Attlee took over as Prime Minister in July 1945 after defeating Winston Churchill and went on to lead the country through major international upheaval while spearheading a far-reaching domestic overhaul.
