UK foreign policy to stay steady as Labour leadership shifts to Andy Burnham

Vice‑prime minister David Lammy told Europe Today that the United Kingdom will not alter its foreign‑policy stance when a new Labour prime minister takes office. The statement follows outgoing Labour leader Keir Starmer’s announcement of an “ordered transition” and the expectation that Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, seen as the sole candidate, could become prime minister as early as 17 July. Lammy, a former foreign secretary, said the next government will maintain the core principles of Starmer’s foreign policy, including deeper commercial ties with the EU and continued support for Ukraine.

At the Ukraine Reconstruction Conference in Gdańsk, the UK pledged an additional £290 million (about €340 million) for Ukraine’s rebuild and energy‑security needs, reaffirmed its commitment to sanctions on Russia and to the “Coalition of the Willing” for freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The EU‑UK summit scheduled for 22 July was postponed due to the political transition, and Lammy expressed optimism that the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara will reinforce trans‑Atlantic cooperation on Ukraine.