Nigel Farage makes shock supply to Keir Starmer after Donald Trump’s win | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Nigel Farage has vowed to assist Sir Keir Starmer construct a greater relationship with Donald Trump to keep away from squandering a “great opportunity”.

The Reform UK chief mentioned Britain should “roll out the red carpet for Trump very quickly” because the world braces for a drastic change in Washington’s stance on commerce.

The Prime Minister congratulated the Republican politician on a “historic election victory” after American voters returned him to the White House on Wednesday.

Number 10, which is in search of to construct bridges with Mr Trump after his marketing campaign filed a authorized grievance about Labour activists backing rival Kamala Harris, mentioned Sir Keir regarded ahead to talking with him in “due course”.

Concerns have additionally mounted concerning the prospect of a UK-US commerce deal in mild of Mr Trump’s proposal to impose hefty tariffs on American imports.

And Mr Farage declared on Wednesday evening: “Perhaps the biggest worry that Sir Keir Starmer faces in policy terms is that Trump has announced a big tariff regime. Britain is, potentially, in a fortunate position. Such tariffs might be avoided – but only by direct negotiations with Team Trump, something of which Starmer’s friends in the European Union would not approve. Which way will Starmer jump?

“On defence, I see deep tensions over the surrender of the Chagos Islands, in particular America’s long-term use of the base at Diego Garcia.

“Britain is really going to have to roll out the red carpet for Trump very quickly. If we don’t, a great opportunity will be squandered.

“I’m overjoyed that this process has already begun, with our very sensible Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, making clear that Trump will be able to address Parliament during his State visit next year.

“However, there is no time to waste. If I can be helpful in any way when it comes to bridging the divide that exists between Starmer’s Government and Trump, I will be glad to assist.

“I might not agree with almost anything that Starmer and his Cabinet stand for, but I do believe in something called the national interest.”

Number 10 refused to be drawn on “future policy discussions” when requested on Wednesday whether or not such an strategy would injury the UK economic system, however insisted the Government is assured in standing up for Britain’s pursuits.

“We look forward to working with President-elect Trump including on a wide range of his policy priorities to improve the UK-US trading relations and to support the significant investment relationship that supports millions of jobs across our two countries,” Sir Keir’s spokesman mentioned.

But Mr Farage additionally warned Donald Trump’s re-election would have a “profound” affect on the UK.

He mentioned: “Trump’s victory will have profound consequences for politics across the Western world, including in the United Kingdom. At the moment, Britain’s energy costs are among the most expensive globally, thanks partly to our socialist government’s green policies. Might Trump’s cheaper energy policies now influence our own?

“There are additionally parallels on the thorny matter of immigration. Legal immigration has been operating at file ranges in Britain however it’s unlawful immigration that has actually outraged the British public, simply as voters in America have change into livid by the large numbers crossing the Rio Grande.

“The sense of disconnect between our political class and the people who live outside the M25 is as wide as it is in the USA. Ditto in Europe. Americans have had enough and are looking to Trump to solve the problem. You can bet Britons feel similar impatience.”

Mr Trump has refused to explicitly say if he desires Ukraine to win the struggle with Russia, insisting he desires the battle to finish “in a day” however declining to set out the specifics of how this might be achieved.

Sir Keir has mentioned the UK’s help for Kyiv will stay “ironclad” within the wake of the previous president’s election win.

“President-elect Trump has been a steadfast supporter of the special and enduring relationship with the US and the UK have enjoyed for many years,” his spokesman mentioned.

“We welcome sustained bipartisan US support for Ukraine which has been absolutely key in the international effort, and the UK’s support for Ukraine will remain ironclad.

“This is clearly amongst many points that the Prime Minister seems to be ahead to working with the president-elect on within the coming months and years forward.”

At Prime Minister’s Questions in the Commons on Wednesday, 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.”

Mr Trump’s victory was used as ammunition by Tory chief Kemi Badenoch in her first sparring match with Sir Keir throughout the despatch field, the place she urged the PM to apologise for Mr Lammy’s 2018 description of the president-elect.

The Foreign Secretary had referred to as Mr Trump a “woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath” who’s “a profound threat to the international order”.

Ms Badenoch additionally referred to as on Sir Keir to again an invite for Mr Trump to handle Parliament and revive talks on a UK-US commerce deal.

Sir Keir mentioned: “Of course we will discuss issues of our economy with the president-elect, as we already have done.”

Mr Trump declared he had gained a “magnificent victory for the American people” as soon as it was clear he was on monitor to return to the White House as forty seventh president of the United States early on Wednesday.

That victory was later confirmed as a win in Wisconsin tipped him over the 270 electoral votes wanted to defeat Ms Harris.

Mr Trump informed supporters that “America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate”.

He mentioned that he wouldn’t let his backers down and that it’s “time to put the divisions of the past four years behind us”.

Addressing a marketing campaign occasion in Florida within the early hours of Wednesday, Mr Trump pledged to “fight” for “every citizen” and promised the “golden age of America”.

He added: “This is a magnificent victory for the American people that will allow us to make America great again.”

The president-elect has lengthy complained about US tax {dollars} funding European safety and has been extremely crucial about Nato members not spending sufficient.

He has additionally repeatedly claimed he would deliver the struggle in Ukraine to an finish, though he has not set out how he would obtain this.

Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky was fast to congratulate Mr Trump and mentioned: “I appreciate President Trump’s commitment to the ‘peace through strength’ approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together.

“We depend on continued sturdy bipartisan help for Ukraine within the United States.”

Nato secretary general Mark Rutte said Mr Trump’s leadership “will once more be key to protecting our alliance sturdy”, adding: “Through Nato, the US has 31 mates and allies who assist to advance US pursuits, multiply American energy and maintain Americans protected.”

Addressing Mr Trump’s concerns about burden-sharing, he added: “Two-thirds of Allies now spend not less than 2% of their GDP (gross home product) on defence, and defence spending and manufacturing are on an onward trajectory throughout the alliance.”

Former defence secretary Sir Ben Wallace said the return of Mr Trump should spur European Nato members to commit more to security, with a pledge to spend 3% of GDP.

“Whatever your emotions concerning the US election are, the perfect insurance coverage for all our safety is to spend money on our personal defence and safety proper throughout Europe,” he mentioned.