PASir Keir Starmer has congratulated Donald Trump on an “historic election victory”, and said he looked forward to working with the president-elect in the years ahead.
“As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defence of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise,” the UK prime minister said.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy, along with opposition leaders Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage, also offered their congratulations.
However, other UK politicians were more critical, with the Liberal Democrats’ Sir Ed Davey calling the election result a “dark, dark day”.
Trump’s victory was confirmed on Wednesday morning after the Republican candidate picked up more than the 270 electoral college votes he needed to win the US presidency.
In a statement, Sir Keir said: “I look forward to working with you in the years ahead.
“From growth and security to innovation and tech, I know that the UK-US special relationship will continue to prosper on both sides of the Atlantic for years to come.”
In a social media post, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said “the UK has no greater friend than the US, with the special relationship being cherished on both sides of the Atlantic for more than 80 years”.
He added that he looked forward to working with Trump and his running mate JD Vance.
Whilst in opposition, Lammy had been very critical of Trump labelling him a “neo-Nazi sympathising sociopath”.
However, since becoming foreign secretary he has sought to build relations with Trump and his team.
Offering his congratulations, Scottish First Minister John Swinney said Scotland and the US “share many social, cultural and economic links”.
“In that relationship, we will stand fast in support of our values of fairness, democracy and equality – ideals that America was built upon.”
Newly-elected Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: “The world faces many serious challenges and I look forward to our two countries working together to confront them.”
Nigel Farage, Reform UK leader and a friend of Trump, said the president-elect was a “genuine friend of the United Kingdom” and urged the prime minister to “roll out the red carpet” for him.
“This is a huge opportunity to be grasped.”
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said Trump would be a “genuine radical” who would pursue a “big fightback against the administrative bureaucratic state which is far too big, far too powerful and actually very undemocratic”.
Other UK opposition party leaders have been more critical. Sir Ed Davey called the election result “a dark, dark day for people around the globe”.
“The world’s largest economy and most powerful military will be led by a dangerous, destructive demagogue.
“Fixing the UK’s broken relationship with the EU is even more urgent than before – we must strengthen trade and defence cooperation across Europe to help protect ourselves from the damage Trump will do.”
Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer called Trump “a dangerous bigot, bully, and liar”.
“On this dark day, we stand in solidarity with all US citizens who fear a convicted criminal and a fascist in the White House.
“And we stand with all those around the world who dreaded this moment and must now live with its consequences, including those in Gaza and Ukraine.”
Labour London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who has repeatedly clashed with Trump, said many Londoners would feel “anxious” and “fearful” about what the outcome of the election would mean for democracy, women’s rights, the Middle East, Ukraine or tackling the climate crisis.
“The lesson of today is that progress is not inevitable. But asserting our progressive values is more important than ever – re-committing to building a world where racism and hatred is rejected, the fundamental rights of women and girls are upheld, and where we continue to tackle the crisis of climate change head on.”
Lord Philip Hammond, who served as foreign secretary and chancellor during Trump’s last presidency, said: “It’s going to be deep breath time in Whitehall” as they “try to understand how this new administration is going to work”.
He also said that “the thing that will be preoccupying the Foreign Office and No 10 most is where Sir Keir Starmer is on the list of people that the President-elect will speak to over the coming hours”.
This article was originally published at www.bbc.com
