United States President Donald Trump has called on the new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham to take immediate steps to tackle illegal migration, warning that the issue is “killing” the United Kingdom.
Mr Trump made the call on Wednesday while speaking to GB News.
He said that despite initially avoiding the subject after taking office, Burnham would eventually have to address immigration.
“He’s going to have to mention it because it’s killing your country,” Trump told the broadcaster.
“I know Starmer did very little about it, and they’re coming from all over the world.
“They’re coming from Africa. They’re coming from South America. They’re coming from different parts of Asia.
“They’re invading Europe,” he warned, adding: “It’s an invasion, and the UK is a prime suspect,” the US president opined.
Trump’s remarks came hours after more than 500 migrants crossed the English Channel into Britain, according to the report.
GB News said the arrivals reached British waters after people smugglers launched 11 small boats from several points along the French and Belgian coast, with departures reported from beaches stretching from Belgium to the French port of Dieppe.
The comments also came as Burnham’s government continued to face questions over its plans to deal with asylum seekers.
Asked earlier this week whether the Prime Minister wanted asylum hotels to be closed, a Downing Street spokesman said: “The work on that continues,” adding there was “no change in that work that’s being carried out by the Home Secretary in her department”.
According to Home Office figures cited in the report, 172 people crossed the Channel on the Wednesday of Burnham’s first week in office, followed by 366 on Thursday in three boats and another 103 on Friday.
Trump also reflected on his early interactions with the new British leader, saying Burnham faced significant challenges.
On Burnham’s first day in Downing Street, the US President said the British leader had a “big job ahead of him”.
He also described a recent telephone conversation between them, saying: “A phone call between the duo was ‘interesting, and went very well’. I wished Prime Minister Burnham, GOOD LUCK AND GODSPEED!”
The report said the two leaders have maintained relatively stable relations in Burnham’s opening weeks in office, although North Sea oil drilling has emerged as a potential point of disagreement.
The day before Burnham succeeded former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Trump urged him to expand North Sea oil drilling, saying it would “make the United Kingdom, from a poverty stricken disaster, to one of the richest countries anywhere in the world”.
The report also said sources in Washington expressed concern over Burnham’s appointment of Ed Miliband as Foreign Secretary, citing his previous criticisms of Trump.
According to the report, efforts to strengthen UK-US relations are continuing behind the scenes, while Burnham has maintained Britain’s policy of allowing US forces to use British military bases for what the government described as “defensive” strikes linked to the conflict involving Iran.
