LONDON, July 3. /TASS/. The ruling Labour Party in the United Kingdom missed its chance to improve relations with Russia two years ago, and the future prime minister is not expected to correct this mistake, Russian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Andrey Kelin told TASS in an interview, commenting on his expectations regarding the upcoming Labour leader.

"The Labour Party had a chance to make a fresh start when they came to power in 2024, but, unfortunately, they failed to seize it. They continue to pump the Kiev regime with weapons and funds and impose unilateral illegitimate sanctions against our country. Their obsession with the anti-Russia agenda is off the scale and resembles the worst periods of the Cold War," the ambassador said.

On June 22, incumbent Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who won the parliamentary elections in July 2024, announced he would be leaving office. So far, the only person to express interest in taking his place is former Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who was elected to the House of Commons (the lower chamber of the British Parliament) on June 18. If no other Labour MP does the same, Burnham will become prime minister as early as on July 20.

"Andy Burnham has so far made very few comments on the international agenda. He is focusing on the socio-economic issues that truly concern the British people. It would be premature to speculate about his foreign policy views, especially since he has not yet been officially appointed prime minister," Kelin noted.

According to the ambassador, local experts predict that Burnham’s foreign policy team will include already well-known figures. "I would not expect any serious adjustments to the established policy from them," Kelin said.

"Incumbent British politicians, as many people (including US President Donald Trump) say, are a far cry from Winston Churchill. Not without reason, the UK has seen its sixth prime minister in the past 10 years, while the real welfare of the British people is actually declining, not improving," Kelin added.