Keir Starmer congratulates Trump on ‘historic victory’ as PM must scramble to keep special relationship afloat after damaging row over Labour’s support for Harris – while urged to leverage Farage’s friendship with new president

Keir Starmer today congratulated Donald Trump on his ‘historic victory’ after conquering the swing states.

The Republican is poised for an extraordinary return to office, with the world bracing for his bullish approach.

And Sir Keir faces a particular challenge after tensions flared over Labor supporters who helped campaign for the Democratic candidate.

The prime minister has also clashed repeatedly with billionaire Elon Musk, who is confident he will eventually play a key role in the Trump administration.

Sir Keir said in a statement this morning: ‘Congratulations to President-elect Trump on your historic election victory. I look forward to working with you in the years to come.

‘As the closest ally, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defense of our shared values ​​of freedom, democracy and entrepreneurship.

‘From growth and security to innovation and technology, I know the special relationship between Britain and the US will continue to flourish on both sides of the Atlantic for years to come.’

Foreign Secretary David Lammy – who once branded Trump a “neo-Nazi sympathizing sociopath” – said: “The UK has no greater friend than the US, with the special relationship on both sides of the Atlantic already more than 80 years is cherished. . We look forward to working with you and @JDVance for years to come.”

Sir Keir ordered Cabinet ministers to remain silent on the election for fear of escalating the situation further. But the MPs have not succeeded in this resisted voicing their displeasure on social media this morning.

Meanwhile, jubilant Reform MPs are demanding Sir Keir use Nigel Farage’s close friendship with Trump to maintain the special relationship.

Government sources have replayed a private dinner Sir Keir and Foreign Secretary David Lammy had with Mr Trump in New York in September, insisting they had built a good relationship.

But during the bitter campaign, Trump’s team filed an official complaint with federal election authorities, accusing Labor of making “illegal foreign national contributions.”

About a hundred activists traveled to states to canvass for the Harris ticket – although Labor insisted they went at their own expense.

There was also anger that senior party figures went to the Democratic National Convention in August and met with Harris aides. The two parties have long-standing ties.

In interviews at the Commonwealth summit in Samoa last month, Sir Keir tried to play down fears that the row could derail the special relationship if Trump wins.

He stressed that the situation “needs to be put into perspective” as party volunteers have gone to help in “every previous election.”

As a backstabber MP in 2018, Mr Lammy wrote in Time magazine: “Trump is not just a misogynist, neo-Nazi sympathizing sociopath.

“He is also a major threat to the international order that has been the basis of Western progress for so long.”

And in a 2018 Times article ahead of Trump’s first visit to Britain, Lammy promised he would be among the “tens of thousands in the streets protesting our government’s capitulation to this tyrant in a toupee.”

In a round of interviews yesterday, Health Minister Wes Streeting was asked about his opinion on the elections.

He joked: “I have a lot of thoughts, but not the thoughts I will share as a minister.”

Mr Streeting was challenged over a 2017 social media post in which he described Trump as an “odious, sad, little man”, adding: “Imagine being proud to have that as your president .’

He told Good Morning Britain: ‘The Prime Minister and the Secretary of State have worked hard to build a relationship with President Trump and his team so that if he is elected as the next President of the United States, we starting with the strong working relationship that is in our national interest and also in the interest of the United States.

“And it’s not often that I pray and help Nigel Farage, the leader of the Reform Party, but as he said overnight, President Trump, you know, he speaks his mind.

‘He had a very good meeting with Keir Starmer not so long ago, and of course he will be aware of the things we have all said in the past…’

Mr Streeting said: ‘The most important thing about this relationship, this transatlantic relationship, is one of the most important alliances that Britain has.

‘We have shared values ​​and shared strategic interests, and with war on our continent, in Ukraine, war in the Middle East and wider geopolitical threats, it is in the national interest of Britain and the United States to work closely together .

“That won’t change no matter who the occupant of the Oval Office is, and now we just have to wait hours for the polls to close.”

Senior government sources have poured cold water on Mr Farage’s suggestion that he could act as a “conduit” between his old ally, Mr Trump, and the British government.

“That’s good of him,” someone said scathingly.