Andy Burnham, the man widely expected to become the UK's next prime minister, has been told he must pass a 'Moscow test' on defence — as Donald Trump branded him 'the mayor of a town' and 'extremely liberal'.
Former Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin warned that whoever succeeds Sir Keir Starmer will need to operate 'almost like a wartime prime minister' and fulfil the pledge to increase defence spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035. 'What do we look like to Moscow?' Sir Tony asked the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme. 'Do we look like a strong member of the Nato alliance? Do we look like a strong nuclear power? Do we look like a strong ally of America? Because those are the elements that keep us safe.'
“Sir Tony Radakin says Burnham must pass a 'Moscow test' on defence; Trump dubs him 'mayor of a town'.”
His intervention came as the government prepares to publish its Defence Investment Plan before the Nato summit in Turkey on 7 July. Sir Tony said military capabilities are 'too bare' — meaning 'additional money for day to day operations' for stores, maintenance, ships, aircraft and tanks. Defence Secretary John Healey and Armed Forces Minister Al Carns both resigned earlier this month over what they called insufficient investment.
Separately, the US president gave his first public reaction to Burnham, calling him an 'extremely liberal' politician who 'probably won't open up' the North Sea for further oil and gas drilling. Trump also labelled the former Greater Manchester mayor 'the mayor of a town'. Burnham's team declined to comment on the remarks.
The new MP for Makerfield is so far the only candidate to replace Starmer as Labour leader and prime minister. Trump's intervention underscores the challenge of handling the US president — Burnham has previously been critical of Trump, saying in 2017 he would refuse to meet him 'as a matter of principle' and accusing him of sharing 'hateful extremist material' online. In 2021 he posted that any UK politician who 'gave Trump the time of day should be ashamed'.
At the same time, Burnham has announced he will donate 15% of his MP's salary to local causes in Makerfield. An MP's salary is £98,599. 'One thing that I want to continue from my time as mayor of Greater Manchester is donating 15% of my salary,' he said in a clip posted online. 'I did that for nine years as mayor to tackle homelessness in Greater Manchester and I am going to carry it forward as MP for Makerfield but this time donating to worthy local causes at the heart of our communities.' He will start with the Stubshaw Cross community and sports club, which served as his campaign headquarters during the byelection in which he defeated Reform UK.
Burnham's dual emphasis on domestic generosity and global toughness will be tested if he becomes prime minister. As Sir Tony put it: 'It is keep our country safe, acknowledge that you have this extraordinary responsibility — so you're almost like a wartime prime minister at the moment.'