‘We are not your enemies’: UK’s Burnham to raise ‘Made in Europe’ concerns with von der Leyen

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is set to advocate for the UK's involvement in the European Union's "Made in Europe" scheme during his UN General Assembly debut as leader. Burnham assured reporters that there is support for Britain's aspirations to become a "trusted partner" to the EU, highlighting that the nation shares common issues with the bloc, particularly in the steel industry.

He emphasized that Europe is not at odds with the UK, stating, "We are making the argument: we are not your enemies here... we are not the problem."

Burnham expressed concern over potential collateral damage to supply chains and trade barriers if the UK were excluded from the "Made in Europe" initiative. He stressed the importance of avoiding unnecessary trade barriers between London and other EU member countries. Previously, efforts to join the EU's SAFE defence fund fell through, prompting Burnham to aim for deeper ties with the EU, an objective that saw progress under his predecessor but was frustrated by the leadership change in July.

Despite this, Burnham remains committed to fostering a cooperative approach between the UK and the EU, pledging to work towards a partnership that does not exacerbate existing issues.