Prime Minister Andy Burnham played The Smiths' "Rusholme Ruffians" on guitar alongside a Ukrainian soldier during his first visit to Kyiv as PM, and band co-founder Johnny Marr has now responded warmly to the moment. Speaking to Absolute Radio, Marr called it "an amazing thing" and "a victory for the guitar", saying he found it hard to process the significance given Ukraine's situation but ultimately welcomed the tribute to the instrument and to music's global reach.

Burnham, formerly Mayor of Greater Manchester, visited a Ukrainian military and artistic unit that performs for troops on the front line, in hospitals and at rehabilitation centres, admitting he was "out of practice" before playing the 1985 track. He has long championed The Smiths, previously naming their compilation "Hatful Of Hollow" as a life-changing record, and has been active on music policy since becoming PM, including cutting business rates for venues by 20 per cent and facing pressure over touring costs, AI copyright and ticket touting.