Starmer warns Burnham he cannot spend less time on diplomacy

The brief

Keir Starmer has warned his likely successor, Andy Burnham, that it will not be possible to spend less time focusing on international affairs. Speaking during a BBC interview, he also spoke of his “intensely personal” decision to announce his resignation last month after two years as prime minister. Throughout his premiership, the Labour leader has faced accusations of spending too much time on the world stage instead of domestic affairs, with his opponents calling him “never here Keir”. Burnham has largely focused on domestic issues as he sets out his stall to be the next prime minister. But Starmer warned that the future prime minister would not be able to…