In the read-out, No 10 says:

The prime minister was pleased to host president Trump’s special envoy to the UK, Mark Burnett, at Downing Street last night, during which he took a call from president Trump and discussed his forthcoming visit to the US.

Burnett and the prime minister agreed on the unique and special nature of the UK-US relationship, the strength of our alliance, and the warmth of the connection between the two countries.

Burnett reflected on his personal connections to the UK, and his mother’s experience working part-time in Downing Street as a waitress over 30 years ago.

They emphasised the huge potential for even stronger collaboration on trade, tech and cultural matters between the US and the UK, and looked forward to working together.

Today science secretary Peter Kyle said the UK needs “cool, clear thinking” over the threat of new trade tariffs being imposed by the Trump administration in the US.

In an earlier diplomatic read-out from a phone call with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Starmer’s spokesperson said the prime minister had assured the government in Kyiv that the UK was committed to Ukraine being “on an irreversible path to Nato”, putting the UK seemingly at odds with recent statements coming out of Washington about talks to end the war there, which has been ongoing for nearly three years.

Trump announced Burnett’s appointment as his special envoy in December. The 64-year-old British television producer helped produce Trump’s show The Apprentice, and as former chair of MGM Worldwide Television Group, Burnett has won 13 Emmys.

At the time the then-president-elect said of Burnett “With a distinguished career in television production and business, Mark brings a unique blend of diplomatic acumen and international recognition to this important role. Mark will work to enhance diplomatic relations, focusing on areas of mutual interest, including trade, investment opportunities, and cultural exchanges.”