Andy Burnham says Emmanuel Macron is "our nearest neighbour and close friend" at Downing Street

On Thursday, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham welcomed President Emmanuel Macron to Downing Street, making Macron the first foreign leader Burnham has hosted in office. The night before, both had joined the King at the British Museum for the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition; Burnham thanked Macron for lending it. Burnham called the meeting a mark of cooperation; Macron said he wanted closer ties. Ukraine, UK-EU relations and cross-Channel migration were discussed. Officials had announced extra officers on French beaches, a new 75-officer unit and an expanded French intelligence team in response to an apparent move by smuggling groups to larger boats even as the summer’s count of Channel crossings was the smallest since 2019. Freedom from Torture, a refugee charity, urged spending on the UK asylum system instead.