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Starmer hails shared UK-US values after Trump win Strong US relations crucial, says PM after Trump win
(about 3 hours later)
Sir 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. Watch: PM and Badenoch congratulate Trump on US election victory
“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. Keir Starmer has said a strong UK-US relationship is "crucial", as he congratulated Donald Trump on his election as US president.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy, along with opposition leaders Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage, also offered their congratulations. Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Sir Keir said the world was "probably more volatile" than it had been for many decades, adding the two countries were the "closest of allies" and that he looked forward to working with Trump in the coming years.
However, other UK politicians were more critical, with the Liberal Democrats' Sir Ed Davey calling the election result a "dark, dark day". Kemi Badenoch - making her first appearance in Parliament as Conservative leader - urged Sir Keir to apologise for comments previously made about Trump by David Lammy before he was foreign secretary.
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. And she pressed the prime minister on how Trump's election would affect UK policies on trade and defence.
In a statement, Sir Keir said: "I look forward to working with you in the years ahead. In opposition, Lammy labelled Trump a "neo-Nazi sympathising sociopath" but since getting into government has sought to build bridges with the president-elect and his team.
Sir Keir did not offer an apology but pointed to a dinner he and Lammy held with Trump in New York earlier this year.
"We discussed a number of issues of global significance - it was a very constructive exercise," he told MPs.
Badenoch said the US was the UK's single biggest trade partner and warned the prime minister he would need to "look after the special relationship".
She said there was now a "risk of increased tariffs on UK exports" and asked if he would bring back talks on establishing a free trade agreement with the US.
Since leaving the European Union, UK ministers have been keen to reach a trade deal with the US - however, there has been little progress.
During his election campaign, Trump pledged to dramatically increase tariffs on foreign exports.
Replying to Badenoch, Sir Keir said: "Of course we will discuss issues of our economy with the president-elect, as we already have done."
On defence, the Conservative leader backed calls from Trump that European countries should increase their defence spending and urged the prime minister to match her party's commitment to raise defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2030.
Sir Keir reiterated his government's commitment to the 2.5% target - although it has not set a deadline for meeting the goal.
He added that, unlike the previous Labour government, the Conservatives had failed to meet the target whilst in office.
He also attacked the Conservatives for leaving a £17bn black hole in the Ministry of Defence's finances.
'Roll out the red carpet'
Trump's election victory - confirmed before Prime Minister's Questions - has divided UK politicians, with one hailing it as a "huge opportunity" while another lamenting a "dark, dark day".
In a statement released on Wednesday morning, Sir Keir congratulated Trump on an "historic" win, adding that the UK and US would "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.”“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,, external 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". Echoing his leader's sentiment, 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.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". Offering his own congratulations, Scottish First Minister John Swinney said Scotland and the US "share many social, cultural and economic links".
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.""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." 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.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.""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". 'Deep breath time'
Other UK opposition party leaders have been more critical. Sir Ed Davey called the election result, external "a dark, dark day for people around the globe".Other UK opposition party leaders have been more critical. Sir Ed Davey called the election result, external "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."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.""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".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."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.""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.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." "The lesson of today is that progress is not inevitable. But asserting our progressive values is more important than ever."
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".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".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".