A senior minister in Keir Burnham's government has cautioned that the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran will make the task of setting next month's budget more challenging. Bridget Phillipson, who serves in the prime minister's cabinet, linked the international situation to increased uncertainty around fiscal planning.
Phillipson also told reporters she did not expect the prime minister's previous public criticisms of Donald Trump to present an obstacle to a face-to-face meeting. The comments came as Burnham prepares to travel to New York for the United Nations general assembly, where he is scheduled to meet the former US president early next week.
Downplaying any diplomatic friction, the minister noted that Burnham and Trump have already held two telephone conversations since the prime minister took office at Number 10. Phillipson indicated that those exchanges and the upcoming in-person meeting reflected normal engagement between the UK and the United States despite past remarks.
The intervention highlights the tight political and economic balancing act facing the government ahead of its fiscal statement. Ministers have warned that external shocks and geopolitical crises can complicate the assumptions that underpin budget planning, adding a layer of risk to policymaking as the administration prepares to set its priorities.
The prime minister's trip to the UN general assembly will be watched closely for signals on foreign policy and for how bilateral relations with the United States are managed against a backdrop of heightened global tensions. The meeting with Trump will be one of the first high-profile encounters since Burnham entered Downing Street and could shape the government's immediate diplomatic and fiscal agenda.