Tonally, it was perhaps not quite what the UK prime minister and his delegation had been hoping for. Moments before meeting Andy Burnham for the first time, Donald Trump told the world about “a British invasion fleet” arriving 250 years ago “to crush the cause of liberty”.

Immediately after Trump’s address to the UN General Assembly, the British and Americans met, and more cordially. “A really special country and we are with you all the way, Mr Prime Minister,” the US president declared.

A 45-minute meeting between Trump and Burnham, their foreign ministers, national security advisers, ambassadors and chiefs of staff concluded before the press was invited in for a 12-minute conference. Trump offered generalised (“I think he’s going to be good”), even flatulent (“a natural businessperson”) comments of approval. As, of course, he once did about Keir Starmer.

Perhaps nowhere more than in this incipient relationship might Burnham’s likeability – a quality not disputed by even his most hostile critics – be of material benefit: Burnham may disarm with charm. There was, Trump said, “good connection” between them. He congratulated Burnham – confusingly – on a “great election win”. (Had he heard of Makerfield?) “That was a big one.”

Conspicuous by their absence was mention of Burnham’s accent, Trump’s mother, the king – or indeed, the late queen.

It was while Burnham was airborne on his........

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