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Donald Trump Praises ‘Great And Very Brave’ British Soldiers As He Backs Down In Nato Row

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Donald Trump has praised “the great and very brave soldiers of the United Kingdom” as he backed down after a furious row erupted over his comments about the contribution Nato troops made in Afghanistan.

The US president paid tribute to the 457 British soldiers who lost their life in the war, which was triggered by the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre.

To date, it is the only time Nato has triggered Article 5, which states all members must come to the aid of another if they are attacked.

In remarks which drew widespread condemnation, including from Keir Starmer, Trump said the military alliance has never come to America’s aid.

He said: “We have never really asked anything of them, you know, they’ll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan, or this or that, and they did. They stayed a little back, little off the frontlines.”

It is understood Starmer, who called his comments “frankly appalling” and suggested Trump should apologise, raised the matter in a phone call with the president on Saturday.

Shortly afterwards, Trump posted: “The GREAT and very BRAVE soldiers of the United Kingdom will always be with the United States of America! In Afghanistan, 457 died, many were badly injured, and they were among the greatest of all warriors. It’s a bond too strong to ever be broken. The U.K. Military, with tremendous Heart and Soul, is second to none (except for the U.S.A.!). We love you all, and always will! ”

A Downing Street spokesperson said: “The prime minister raised the brave and heroic British and American soldiers who fought side by side in Afghanistan, many of whom never returned home. We must never forget their sacrifice, he said.”

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: “I’m pleased President Trump has now acknowledged the role of the British armed forces and those brave men and women who gave their lives fighting alongside the US and our allies.

“It should never have been questioned in the first place.”

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Andy Burnham Tees Up Battle With Keir Starmer By Launching MP Bid

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Andy Burnham has launched his bid to be Labour’s candidate in a crunch by-election and return to Westminster as an MP.

The Manchester mayor told Labour bosses of his intentions to stand in Gorton and Denton following the resignation on health grounds of sitting MP Andrew Gwynne.

In a letter posted on X, Burnham – who quit as an MP in 2017 – said it was time for him to try to return to parliament.

As a mayor, he has to seek special permission from Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) to be allowed to apply to be a candidate.

Burnham said it had been “a difficult decision”, but vowed to run a “hopeful and unifying campaign” if chosen to as Labour’s candidate.

He there was now “a direct threat to everything Greater Manchester has always been about from a brand of politics which seeks to pit people against each other” – an apparent reference to Reform UK and the rise of the far-right.

He added: “I see this by-election as the front line of that fight for the Manchester way and I feel I owe it to a city which has given me so much to lead it from the front, despite the risks involved.”

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I have today written to the Chair of Labour’s National Executive Committee seeking permission to enter the selection process for a candidate for the forthcoming Gorton and Denton by-election.

Read my letter here.👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/TwKgADsuSB

— Andy Burnham (@AndyBurnhamGM) January 24, 2026

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I have today written to the Chair of Labour’s National Executive Committee seeking permission to enter the selection process for a candidate for the forthcoming Gorton and Denton by-election.

Read my letter here.👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/TwKgADsuSB

— Andy Burnham (@AndyBurnhamGM) January 24, 2026

Burnham’s decision tees up a major battle with Downing Street, where allies of Keir Starmer want the NEC to block his candidacy so he can’t mount a leadership challenge against the prime minister.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast in November, he refused to rule out making a third bid to lead Labour at some point in the future.

He said: “I am not going to sit here this morning and rule out what might or might not happen in the future. Why would I? I don’t know what the future holds.”

But blocking his candidacy would potentially trigger a civil war in the party, with senior figures including Labour mayor Sadiq Khan demanding that Burnham be allowed to stand.

Khan told a Fabian Society conference on Saturday: “I’m a firm believer in the best team having all the talent playing for them.”

Energy secretary Ed Miliband told the same event: “I very much hope the local party will have the option of selecting Andy Burnham as the candidate”.

Even if he were chosen as Labour’s candidate, there is no guarantee that Burnham would be elected as polls indicate the Gorton and Denton seat is now a three-way marginal between Labour. Reform UK and the Greens.

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