UK’s Burnham to host Macron in London next week

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham will host French President Emmanuel Macron in London next week, a UK government source confirmed on Thursday. This marks the first visit by an EU leader since Burnham assumed office last month. Macron's trip comes just days before the British Museum's prestigious Bayeux Tapestry exhibition opens to the public on September 10.

The 11th-century tapestry, which arrived in London for the first time in over 900 years, will be on display until July of next year. Macron secured the loan deal last year after years of negotiations and false starts, emphasizing it as a symbol of Franco-British relations. The restoration of ties between London and European capitals after Brexit has been a priority for the new British government.

Although Prime Minister Keir Starmer was recently ousted, Burnham has been focused on domestic matters but is keen to strengthen foreign relations. He recently visited Kyiv and co-chaired a Ukraine allies meeting with Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The scheduled UK-EU summit to enhance ties, originally planned for July, has been postponed until a later date this year.