Andy Burnham has been in Berlin today – his first bilateral diplomatic visit since entering Downing Street nearly three months ago. The Prime Minister met his German counterpart, Friedrich Merz, face-to-face for the first time to ratify the bilateral Kensington Treaty – signed by the Chancellor and Burnham’s predecessor Keir Starmer last year.

Greeted by Merz with full military honours in the German capital, Burnham’s first appointment was at a local high school, before the two met to formally ratify the treaty. There has been a significant expectation for the two leaders to get along today: forming two of the three members of the E3 diplomatic coalition alongside France, Burnham will have to work closely with Merz on a number of sensitive issues over the coming months, including Ukraine, the Middle East, Russia, handling Donald Trump, as well as European security more broadly. With presidential elections likely to return an EU-hostile leader in France next year, there will be even more pressure on Burnham and Merz to deliver a united response to any challenges that arise. 

Burnham looked distinctly stiff and less at ease than he has in recent diplomatic appearances

Burnham looked distinctly stiff and less at ease than he has in recent diplomatic appearances

Unusually for these sorts of visits between close allies, then, there was no press conference after Merz and Burnham’s meeting today. This was supposedly at No. 10’s insistence, after the Prime Minister wanted to avoid any difficult questions. It was notable........

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