Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has congratulated Donald Trump on being elected as President of the United States.
Trump’s victory is all but assured now he has won three of the key swing states required to clinch the presidency.
The former President’s wins in Pennsylvania, Georgia and North Carolina have left him just four electoral college votes short of confirming his win.
Starmer said: “Congratulations President-elect Trump on your historic election victory. I look forward to working with you 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.
“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.”
Despite a controversy involving Labour party volunteers campaigning for the Democrats, Starmer has previously expressed willingness to work with Donald Trump meeting him for a two hour dinner in September.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy has also issued a congratulatory message on X, despite previously saying he would protest a Trump’s state visit to the UK and calling him a racist online in 2017.
He posted: “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.”
Congratulations to @realDonaldTrump on your victory.
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) November 6, 2024
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.
We look forward to working with you and @JDVance in the years ahead.
Newly elected leader of the Conservative party Kemi Badenoch also extended her congratulations to the President-elect in a post on X.
She said: “Congratulations President-elect @realDonaldTrump on your historic election victory.
“The world faces many serious challenges and I look forward to our two countries working together to confront them.”
During her first Prime Minister’s Questions as leader of the opposition today, she called on Starmer to apologise for the Foreign Secretary’s past Trump comments and asked if Labour would say sorry for the volunteers who went to campaign for the Democrats.
Badenoch also voiced agreement with Trump’s calls for increased NATO defence spending, urging Starmer to raise Britain’s defence budget.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage also welcomed Trump to the White House, after the President-elect name-checked him during a rally in Pennsylvania yesterday.
In a post on X, Farage said: “Donald Trump is a genuine friend of the United Kingdom. Keir Starmer must roll out the red carpet for the 47th President of the USA. This is a huge opportunity to be grasped.”
However, leader of the Liberal Democrats and Kingston MP Ed Davey was more critical in a post on X.
He said: “This is 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.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan was not explicitly critical of Trump, but in a public statement, claimed many Londoners would be anxious at the result.
He added: “London is – and will always be – for everyone. We will always be pro-women, pro-diversity, pro-climate and pro-human rights.
“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.”
Featured image credit taken from Sky News via YouTube under fair dealing
