{"id":61871,"date":"2026-09-03T08:29:56","date_gmt":"2026-09-03T12:29:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/andy-burnham-praises-uk-eu-ties-in-meeting-with-emmanuel-macron\/03\/09\/2026\/"},"modified":"2026-09-03T08:29:56","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T12:29:56","slug":"andy-burnham-praises-uk-eu-ties-in-meeting-with-emmanuel-macron","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/andy-burnham-praises-uk-eu-ties-in-meeting-with-emmanuel-macron\/03\/09\/2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Andy Burnham praises UK-EU ties in meeting with Emmanuel Macron"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n<\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\" data-body-type=\"bodyblocks\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Prime Minister Andy Burnham has praised the UK-EU relationship as he holds talks with French President Emmanuel Macron about issues such as small boat crossings in the English Channel and defence.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The pair shook hands and posed for photographs alongside their wives outside 10 Downing Street on Thursday morning.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">They are discussing &#8220;shared challenges&#8221; including the rise of &#8220;mega dinghies&#8221; crossing the Channel illegally, which the Conservatives say shows the UK government has failed to &#8220;smash the gangs&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Burnham said it was &#8220;so fitting&#8221; that Macron was his first overseas visitor in Downing Street since becoming PM in July, describing him as &#8220;our nearest neighbour and close friend Emmanuel&#8221;.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-primary p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-primary\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"flex-none size-4 -scale-x-100 text-primary lg:size-6 [&amp;_path]:fill-current\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M3.1 3.1V11h1.8V6.314l5.392 5.393 1.415-1.414L6.313 4.9H11V3.1zm17.8 17.8V13h-1.8v4.686l-5.393-5.393-1.415 1.414 5.393 5.393H13v1.8z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-primary hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div style=\"max-height:none;overflow:visible\"><span class=\"[&amp;_p]:inline\"><\/p>\n<p>Burnham and Macron posed for photographs alongside their wives, Marie-France van Heel and Brigitte Macron [Reuters]<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;It shows what collaboration can achieve, just as we are also showing on Ukraine, on small boats, and also on strengthening the UK-EU relationship. So I look forward to discussing those themes further with you today,&#8221; Burnham added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Macron&#8217;s visit to the UK was primarily to mark the <a data-ylk=\"slk:Bayeux Tapestry's loan to the British Museum;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;link&quot;,&quot;yLinkElementType&quot;:&quot;article_link&quot;}\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/articles\/cy7zx6k404go?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Byahoo.north.america%5D-%5Blink%5D-%5Bnews%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Bayeux Tapestry&#8217;s loan to the British Museum<\/a>. The French leader met King Charles at the museum on Wednesday, ahead of the medieval tapestry going on public display next week.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In bilateral talks on Thursday, Burnham and Macron are discussing not just small boats but also the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as defence and EU co-operation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">But the &#8220;mega dinghies&#8221; crossing the Channel illegally &#8211; first seen earlier in August with a <a data-ylk=\"slk:15-metre long vessel carrying a record 230 migrants;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;link&quot;,&quot;yLinkElementType&quot;:&quot;article_link&quot;}\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/articles\/c4g4vxjg2yno?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Byahoo.north.america%5D-%5Blink%5D-%5Bnews%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">15-metre long vessel carrying a record 230 migrants<\/a> towards the UK &#8211; are arguably the most pressing challenge facing the pair.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">It follows a summer when the overall number of small boat arrivals in the UK fell to a seven-year low.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a data-ylk=\"slk:Click here to see the BBC interactive;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;link&quot;,&quot;yLinkElementType&quot;:&quot;article_link&quot;}\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/c62ezg7gkzwo?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Byahoo.north.america%5D-%5Blink%5D-%5Bnews%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Click here to see the BBC interactive<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Downing Street says 45 extra police officers are being deployed to French beaches in a &#8220;surge team&#8221; to tackle larger dinghies with more people packed onto them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Earlier on Tuesday, Home Office Minister Anna Turley said the officers were &#8220;just part of the armoury&#8221; of more than 1,000 officers on northern French beaches who are now doing &#8220;actual intervention&#8221; in the water.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">She told BBC Radio 4&#8217;s Today programme that videos in recent weeks &#8220;show them going to the boats, slashing them, pushing people back, being bombarded with stones and bricks and coming under a lot of challenge to do that, so they are intervening&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In a <a data-ylk=\"slk:post on X;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;link&quot;,&quot;yLinkElementType&quot;:&quot;article_link&quot;}\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/andyburnham\/status\/2095456851605221563\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">post on X<\/a>, in which he said he was &#8220;do[ing] politics differently&#8221;, Burnham laid out the latest small boat, returns and asylum hotel figures, describing smuggling gangs as a &#8220;shared European challenge&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Asked about the extra police on French beaches, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch told the BBC she welcomed European collaboration &#8220;but the boats aren&#8217;t stopping&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;We have spent hundreds of millions, if not billions, paying the French to man the borders,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Thin, red banner promoting the Politics Essential newsletter with text saying, &quot;Top political analysis in your inbox every day&quot;. There is also an image of the Houses of Parliament.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"158\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/c7d5b5628827e316dcf5a66acdf41fddf0e429b7bb6469bb72caf11eccc9862e\/lightyear_networkapi\/resizefill_w960%3Bquality_80%3Bformat_webp\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fbbc_us_articles_995%2F95748f06d69153ca5d7fdd142388a4f9.png\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-primary p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-primary\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"flex-none size-4 -scale-x-100 text-primary lg:size-6 [&amp;_path]:fill-current\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M3.1 3.1V11h1.8V6.314l5.392 5.393 1.415-1.414L6.313 4.9H11V3.1zm17.8 17.8V13h-1.8v4.686l-5.393-5.393-1.415 1.414 5.393 5.393H13v1.8z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-primary hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\"\/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a data-ylk=\"slk:Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;link&quot;,&quot;yLinkElementType&quot;:&quot;article_link&quot;}\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/newsletters\/z7hc239?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Byahoo.north.america%5D-%5Blink%5D-%5Bnews%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter<\/a> to keep up with the inner workings of Westminster and beyond.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/politics\/articles\/andy-burnham-praises-uk-eu-112424980.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Prime Minister Andy Burnham has praised the UK-EU relationship as he holds talks with French President Emmanuel Macron about issues such as<br \/><button class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/andy-burnham-praises-uk-eu-ties-in-meeting-with-emmanuel-macron\/03\/09\/2026\/\">Read More &rsaquo;<\/a><\/button><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":61872,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-61871","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-world"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/8cf829edba2a148fddae56798a55852331f9486bf415366976460bc1c11e31fa\/lightyear_networkapi\/resizefill_w1200%3Bquality_80%3Bformat_jpg\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fbbc_us_articles_995%2F4ac20c632e842b9e1bb3eb9e7f99799c.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61871","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=61871"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61871\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/61872"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=61871"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=61871"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=61871"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}