LONDON \u2013 The appointment of Andy Burnham as the new prime minister of the United Kingdom brings to the fore a host of global issues that could realign Britain\u2019s standing with the United States and Europe, according to Northeastern experts on British politics and international affairs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Burnham\u2019s ascent to Number 10 Downing Street comes as relations between the U.K. and U.S. have become fractious and Britain negotiates a new relationship with the European Union following Brexit. In addition, the U.K. has taken a leading role in European efforts to bolster support for Ukraine<\/a> against Russian invasion.\u00a0<\/p>\n But for watchers of Britain\u2019s foreign policy, much remains unclear as the former mayor of Manchester takes leadership of the nation and the helm of the ruling Labor Party, said Josephine Harmon, assistant professor in Political Science at Northeastern University London.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cBurnham is untested regarding his approach to managing relations with the Trump administration,\u201d said Harmon. He is also untested in many policy areas, she added, noting that Burnham does not have a specific or articulated set of policies that he intends to take to the country.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Amid this unknown, Northeastern experts aimed to shed light on what might be expected from Britain\u2019s seventh prime minister in the last 10 years, who arrived promising to deliver \u201cthe most significant change\u201d seen in four decades of British politics.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThis moment will be a circuit-breaker for Britain,\u201d Burnham told voters Monday in his first speech on the steps of Number 10.\u00a0<\/p>\n But what does that really mean for the country and its place in the world?\u00a0<\/p>\n US relations<\/p>\n At present, the relationship between Burnham and President Trump is essentially a blank slate, said Julie Garey, Northeastern associate teaching professor of political science.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt could manifest into a closer relationship. I\u2019m not sure that President Trump knows much of PM Burnham beyond very, very broad strokes, so there\u2019s not necessarily a preexisting amicability or animosity,\u201d said Garey.\u00a0<\/p>\n Burnham\u2019s predecessor, Keir Starmer, who announced his resignation in June, initially forged a positive relationship by avoiding criticism of the U.S. President, but this soured after Trump criticized British policies on the U.S. and Israel\u2019s war with Iran, immigration and other issues.\u00a0<\/p>\n