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Andy Burnham says he would stand up to Donald Trump 'if it was the right thing to do.' The new prime minister said he had a good first exchange with a "really warm" Trump, but also said he "wouldn't hold back from saying what I think is right". When asked if he would call out Trump if it was the right thing, he said, "of course", before adding, "you have to defend your own national interest before anything else. Nick Ferrari is joined by Republican Commentator Nora-Lee Notzon and Democratic Strategist Ambassador Anthony Gardner to discuss what the future of the UK-US special relationship will look like under Britain's new Prime Minister. Listen to the full show on the all-new LBC App: https://app.af.lbc.co.uk/btnc/thenewlbcapp #lbc #nickferrari #andyburnham #donaldtrump #usa #uk #politics LBC is the home of live debate around news and current affairs in the UK. Join in the conversation and listen at https://www.lbc.co.uk/ Sign up to LBC’s weekly newsletter here: https://l-bc.co/signup
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0:00
It's been extraordinary down the years
0:02
The warmth between Mrs Thatcher, President Reagan, and indeed the late Queen, that was extraordinary
0:09
Was that possibly one of the highs? It probably did have a bit of a low when the previous Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer
0:16
would not allow the use of military bases, RAF bases, for President Trump to launch offensive attacks against Iran in the Middle East conflict
0:25
So how should it be handled? Let's get a couple of expert commentators and then, of course, come to your views
0:30
Nine after seven, Nora Lee-Notson is a Republican commentator, founder of the Strategic Advisory Firm, Notson Advisors, and joins me now
0:37
Thank you so much for taking my call. What advice would you give this British Prime Minister or any British government
0:43
how to handle President Trump? Good morning. Good morning. Well, I think what we've seen already from Prime Minister Andy Burnham
0:52
is he's being very pragmatic in terms of recognizing the importance of the relationship
0:58
with the United States. It's the most important partner we have in the world. And they've had a
1:03
warm conversation. But he's being also the leader of the UK. He has to protect the interest
1:09
It's no surprise that there's already disagreement between where the UK stands
1:15
where the US stands vis-a-vis the Middle East. And you have to be candid and honest about it
1:20
He recognizes that Trump respects strength and Trump respects candor. Now, the question will be how you handle any disagreements publicly
1:31
If you can use diplomacy and behind the scenes, talk about your disagreements privately and in public, be seen to cooperate and focus on the things that are really important
1:42
NATO, defense, AI, investment. US is our largest investment partner in the UK Technology and energy security are key issues that they can work on and collaborate on If you find yourself headed to a disagreement
2:00
Norah Lee, and you touched on this briefly, what is the best way to handle a disagreement with a
2:04
man such as President Trump? I imagine on the outside smiles and handshakes and embraces
2:09
and on the inside that's where it might get a little bit down and dirty. you're absolutely right but i think andy burnham has already set the stage for president trump
2:18
saying we will disagree because he said he will call him out and it's a changing world
2:24
and it's very well known there are already disagreements so he's not going to as west
2:29
streeting said they're not going to suck up to the administration so they've set the stage already
2:35
for how they're going to behave. I think what will behoove Andy Burnham
2:40
is to deal with any disagreements privately behind closed doors and in public have a more cooperative front
2:50
Lastly, briefly, how have previous US administrations viewed UK? UK is always seen as the special relationship
3:02
And what does that mean? It is a strategic alliance, sharing of intelligence for trade, for investment, for Western values
3:13
If we think about the fact that we just celebrated our 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S., it was founded on British values, British principles
3:22
And these are being challenged in the world. So you would go back to those values that are important
3:27
And I think that's always been at the center of the special relationship
3:31
Enjoyed our conversation today, Nora Lee. Thank you, Nora Lee Notson, a Republican commentator
3:36
and founder of the Strategic Advisory firm Notson Advisors 12 After 7. Listening to that
3:40
is Ambassador Anthony Gardner who a democratic strategist and served as US Ambassador to the European Union under President Obama and joins me now Again what advice would you give Ambassador Gardner This is clearly a man who respects strength and respects candor as we heard from our other contributor
3:56
What should that mean for Mr. Burnham's handling of relations? Good morning to you, Ambassador. Good morning. Good to be back on the programme. My advice would be that grovelling doesn't work
4:05
Trump indeed disdains weakness. Starmer, I hate to say it, did grovel, didn't get him very far
4:14
First, Trump said that Starmer was fantastic, then dismissed him as no Churchill, a weak leader
4:20
and that's when he didn't allow, as you mentioned, use of the bases
4:24
Look, this has happened to many other leaders too. I shouldn't pick on Keir Starmer
4:29
Meloni was the best thing since sliced bread, so to speak, before he started disdaining her
4:35
for being a terrible leader. You know, everyone who makes the mistake of thinking
4:39
and develop a special relationship with this leader has been disappointed. So strength does matter
4:46
And I remember from my past is Jean-Claude Juncker, who was the head of the European Commission
4:52
used to be called a killer. That's a quote by Donald Trump
4:56
And that was not something negative in his language, it was something positive
5:01
Because Juncker, in fact, would push back, particularly on trade in the first term
5:06
So my message would be, certainly in private and even in public if it's necessary
5:12
to push back against Donald Trump. Now having said that, this relationship is important
5:16
One, I would say, has to respect the country, has to respect the office
5:21
but one should indeed push back when national interests call for it. Ambassador, it's fascinating you mentioned Jean-Claude Juncker
5:27
I would imagine, and please tell me I've got it totally wrong, President Trump probably admired Angela Merkel then
5:32
Yeah I think you absolutely right So that how you have to okay I starting to get a handle on this now Go ahead Well strong you know with the policies to back it
5:44
The UK, by the way, in many cases, punches below its weight
5:49
It should punch at or above its weight. It has real assets, as the prior speaker correctly pointed out, and doesn't need to grovel
5:58
You know, I've lived in the UK for 26 years and I'm well aware the country not only is a proud tradition, but a proud present and a proud future
6:06
It is beneath itself to be groveling. Finally, it is almost the stuff, as I said at the top of our ambassador, of therapists or psychiatrists, isn't it, handling this relationship
6:15
It's intriguing the way it plays out. It does. I mean, all of this parsing of how special is the special relationship
6:24
And I think Trump once said it's super special or special plus, you know, really, please
6:30
The relationship is indeed unusual. It goes back a long way and involves many areas that don't that other countries can't claim
6:40
Intelligence is one of them. Military is another, even though the cupboard, so to speak, of the UK defense has been drawn down over the years
6:49
But there are many ways in which the countries do collaborate. Look, I saw it firsthand when I was in Brussels
6:55
I was on the phone with a permanent representative of the UK to the EU almost every day
7:02
And that was because our interests align on free trade back then, on many things, including sanctions
7:10
The list is long. So I don't think we should be debasing ourselves by talking about how special the special relationship is
7:16
Let's get on with it and prove it through the words and the deeds that we do
7:21
I've really enjoyed your time. Thanks so much. Anthony Gardner, former ambassador, US ambassador to the European Union under President Obama
7:27
democratic strategist. How to handle that relationship
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