Streeting Says Burnham Is Better Than Blair at Talking to the Public

BRUSSELS — British Defense Secretary Wes Streeting says Prime Minister Andy Burnham is more effective than former Labour leader Tony Blair at speaking with the public, a skill he believes could help Britain address the legacy of Brexit.

In an interview with POLITICO during a visit to Brussels and Berlin on Monday, Streeting described Blair as a “generational political leader” but said he lacked Burnham’s conversational style. Streeting said that approach could help the public discuss the “trauma” of Brexit and that a serious conversation about reversing it could begin within weeks.

Burnham inherited discussions about resetting Britain’s relationship with the European Union from his predecessor, Keir Starmer. He has said he hopes the U.K. will rejoin the bloc within his lifetime. Burnham is 56.

Sources: Politico Europe.