Andy Burnham says of Britain's European ties: "committed to securing deeper co-operation"

During his first trip to Berlin as prime minister, Andy Burnham met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday and ratified the Kensington Treaty, signed last year, covering science, technology, defense, security and growth. Burnham said Britain was receptive to Germany joining the Global Combat Air Programme, the UK-Italy-Japan effort to develop a sixth-generation fighter, while noting no decision is guaranteed and German ministers are reviewing possible involvement. The leaders also launched a security partnership addressing hybrid threats and held a regional growth forum. On Britain’s European ties, Burnham framed a planned summit with the EU later this year as an opportunity to improve engagement. That summit’s date remains uncertain after it was postponed from July following Keir Starmer’s resignation.