On the evening of June 30 local time, the U.S. Embassy in the UK will host a grand ceremony in London to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence. However, Andy Burnham, the highly regarded candidate for the position of next British prime minister, will not be present at this celebration.
According to a report by 'Political News Network' on the 29th, Bernam's team has officially confirmed that he declined the invitation to the celebration from the U.S. Embassy. Bernam's spokesperson explained that the main reason for his absence from the event was a conflict with his schedule.
June 22, Barnaby arrived at the UK Parliament. IC Photo
Bernham is the most popular candidate to be the next British Prime Minister. Some media even directly refer to him as the “next Prime Minister.” It is generally predicted that he will officially take over the position of Prime Minister on July 20. Reports comment that as a key politician who may soon be living at Number 10 Downing Street, his absence adds a special political significance to this American anniversary celebration.
It is worth noting that before the incident of rejection, U.S. President Donald Trump had made negative comments about Bernham. In a recent interview with reporters, Trump said he knew "nothing about Bernham" and jokingly described Bernham as "just a former mayor of a small town," defining him as "extremely liberal." These remarks were interpreted by the public as indicating a clear difference in political views between the two.
The event to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence was held at Wendfield Manor in Regent's Park, London. Wendfield Manor is the official residence of the U.S. Ambassador to the UK, Warren Stephens, and serves as a central venue for high-end diplomatic activities between the UK and the United States. The organizers expect approximately 2,500 guests from various sectors to attend this event.
Compared to previous years, the scale of this year’s celebration was reduced. According to two people familiar with the event preparations, the number of invitations sent by the US side this year was significantly reduced. In previous summers, the number of attendees at this celebration could reach up to 4500 people, which is much larger than the number of participants in this anniversary event.
This celebration invited leaders from major political parties in the UK, with a lineup of guests that represents the mainstream forces in British politics. Previous events have welcomed several key figures from British politics, including former Prime Minister Liz Truss, Leader of the British Reform Party Nigel Farage, and Prime Minister Sturmer, who will be stepping down next year. Sturmer also attended this celebration in 2023.
