US election: Starmer leads British congratulations as Trump wins US election
Donald Trump has beaten Democrat opponent Kamala Harris in the race to become the next US president and Sir Keir Starmer says he is looking forward to working with him in the years ahead
Sir Keir Starmer has congratulated Donald Trump on winning the US election as he said the “special relationship will continue to prosper”.
Mr Trump declared victory at 2.20am local time in Florida (7.20am in the UK) on Wednesday after winning 266 electoral votes to Kamala Harris’s 219, saying he would “heal the country”.
His victory was confirmed when he surpassed 270 electoral college votes by winning the state of Wisconsin, and he remains on course to claim all seven swing states
The prime minister congratulated Mr Trump on his “historic election victory” and said he looks “forward to working with you in the years ahead”.
However, Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davy said it was a “dark, dark day for people around the globe” as he called Mr Trump a “dangerous destructive demagogue”.
US election latest: Trump declares victory
Sir Keir said: “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.”
The two leaders have not always been on the best terms, with the Trump campaign filing a legal complaint against Labour officials who travelled to US battleground states to volunteer for the Harris camp.
In a letter to the US Federal Election Commission, it said the volunteering amounted to “illegal foreign national contributions”.
However, Sir Keir insisted he had a “good relationship” with Mr Trump and they had dinner together in New York last month to ensure they were on good terms.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who previously called Mr Trump “a racist KKK and Nazi sympathiser”, congratulated the president-elect and said he looks forward to working with him and vice president-elect JD Vance.
“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 said.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch congratulated Mr Trump and said: “The world faces many serious challenges and I look forward to our two countries working together to confront them.”
Sir Ed Davy, Green co-leader Carla Denyer and London’s Labour mayor Sadiq Khan made less conciliatory remarks.
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed 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.
“The next president of the United States is a man who actively undermines the rule of law, human rights, international trade, climate action and global security.
“Millions of Americans – especially women and minorities – will be incredibly fearful about what comes next. We stand with them.”
He added it was “more urgent than before” to fix the UK’s “broken relationship” with the EU to “help protect ourselves from the damage Trump will do”.
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Mr Khan said he knows “many Londoners will be anxious…and fearful” about what it will mean for democracy and for women’s rights, or how it will impact the Middle East situation and Ukraine.
“The lesson of today is that progress is not inevitable,” he said.
“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.”
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The Green’s Ms Denyer said it was a “dark day” and called Mr Trump “a dangerous bigot, bully and liar…a convicted criminal and a fascist…a climate change denier, a proud racist and misogynist, and a man who has sought to subvert elections and incite insurrection”.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called Mr Trump’s win “the most incredible political comeback of our lifetime”.
Former PM Liz Truss said his victory was “great news for the US and the West” and added: “Let the fightback begin!”
Ex-Conservative home secretary Suella Braverman said Mr Trump “can now lead the fight for democracy, prosperity and peace around the world” and added the UK “will continue to support you”.
