Andy Burnham braces for first high-stakes talks with unpredictable Donald Trump

The Prime Minister comes face to face with Trump in New York at a time of heightened tensions, after the US President weighed in over the future of the Falklands and the unification of Ireland

Andy Burnham is braced for high-stakes talks with Donald Trump as he sits down with the unpredictable US President for the first time.

The Prime Minister comes face to face with Mr Trump in New York on Tuesday at a time of heightened tensions, after the US President weighed in over the future of the Falklands and the unification of Ireland.

On a visit to Ireland last week, Mr Trump said he would love to see a united Ireland, and also hinted he might not help the UK in a future conflict with Argentina over the Falklands.

Mr Burnham will need to perform a high wire act to build bridges with Mr Trump while standing up for Britain at a time when the US President’s disastrous Iran war is driving up prices at home.

And, last night, Andy Burnham distanced himself from his past comments about Donald Trump – where he branded the US President “poisonous” and said he wouldn’t be welcome in Manchester.

The Prime Minister dismissed concern that his comments could put the dampeners on his meeting with Mr Trump, saying their early calls had been warm.

And he joked that he confronted Mr Trump for describing him as mayor “of some town” when he was running Greater Manchester.

Pressed about his old comments as he prepares to host Trump in Manchester next year, Mr Burnham said: “Politicians say things throughout their career, but now the important thing is to focus on the moment you are in, and I did say to the President in our first phone call – I said – Mr President, Manchester isn’t ‘some town’, I said, this is Manchester. And so yes, the right thing to do is to have a laugh about it, isn’t it, and move beyond it.”

AI and support for Ukraine are expected to be at the top of the Prime Minister’s agenda at the UN General Assembly, his second trip abroad in office after he travelled to Kyiv in the summer.

Mr Burnham is expected to use his speech to the UN to call for AI to be harnessed as a force for good, in the wake of apocalyptic warnings over the dangers of the technology.

Current and former researchers have sounded the alarm in recent weeks over the rapid pace of AI development.

Evan Hubinger, from Anthropic, made headlines when he warned there was a more than 10% chance AI “could kill all humans” within the next decade.

But the PM will argue that AI can be channelled as a force for good, and will launch a defence pact with the US to use the rapidly advancing technology to protect critical national infrastructure.

He will reveal that the UK has fired a US torpedo from a Plymouth-made undersea drone – the first time either country has launched a missile from an uncrewed vessel.

The heavyweight torpedo – designed to sink ships and deep diving submarines – launched from a 12-metre-long undersea drone named Excalibur last week in UK waters.

The PM said: “When the global financial crisis hit, the UK brought together the world’s leading economies.

“As we confront the opportunities and challenges posed by artificial intelligence, we will show that same leadership, ensuring rapidly changing technology is harnessed for good to make our countries safer and stronger.

“That ambition is underlined in our new defence partnership with the United States on AI and autonomy, bringing together the brightest minds to strengthen the protection of critical infrastructure, deter those who threaten our security, and use the enormous potential of AI to our advantage.”

He will add: “This week I will be making the case for closer international cooperation on AI, a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, and renewed efforts to bring an end to the conflict in the Middle East because what happens abroad impacts each and every one of us at home.”

The PM is also expected to invite the US President to Manchester next year where the UK will play host to world leaders for the G20 summit.

The high-profile event, held at the Manchester Central Convention Centre in November, will come after the UK takes on the presidency of the group of powerful nations next year.

Mr Burnham’s beloved Manchester was chosen as the location for the G20 gathering earlier this year, while Keir Starmer was Prime Minister.

Downing Street said the UK must work with allies to deal with growing global turmoil that is driving up people’s bills and threatening Britain’s security.

The PM’s official spokesman said: “The British people at home are at the forefront of the Prime Minister’s mission in New York this week, because to deliver at home, we must ensure we’re leading international efforts to brighten a darkening global picture.

“Conflicts, climate change, and the attempts by hostile state actors to sow division through dis and misinformation are not issues we’re facing alone, but they are issues the prime minister is determined the UK will play a leadership role in combating.

“To give people the breathing space they need, he’s clear we must work with our international partners to face up to the biggest challenges of our generation.”

Mr Burnham will be accompanied by his wife Marie-France van Heel, who is expected to meet the spouses of international leaders while in New York.