Anxious and '˜clearly wrong': What British politicians say about Trump victory

Prime Minister Theresa May - who was careful during the campaign not to express a preference for either candidate - was measured in her response, congratulating the President-elect and stating the UK and US 'will remain strong and close partners'.
Diana Caldon, from left, Eddie Hamilton and Stephanie Smith celebrate at an election night watch party hosted by the Nevada GOP as Donald Trump wins the presidencyDiana Caldon, from left, Eddie Hamilton and Stephanie Smith celebrate at an election night watch party hosted by the Nevada GOP as Donald Trump wins the presidency
Diana Caldon, from left, Eddie Hamilton and Stephanie Smith celebrate at an election night watch party hosted by the Nevada GOP as Donald Trump wins the presidency

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said Mr Trump’s victory was “an unmistakable rejection of a political establishment and an economic system that simply isn’t working for most people”, but warned the answers he is offering to America’s problems are “clearly wrong”.

Ukip leader Nigel Farage - who went to the US to appear at a Trump campaign rally - said he was handing over his mantle as the creator of political earthquakes to the new President, saying that 2016 was “the year of two great political revolutions”, adding: “I thought Brexit was big, but boy, this looks like it’s going to be even bigger”.

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Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said the liberal values of “moderation, freedom, respect for the rule of law, openness and concern for one another” had been “defeated” in the US.

Supporters of these values need to “fight” against the rise of “nationalism, protectionism and division”, he said.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who last year stripped Mr Trump of his role as a business ambassador for Scotland, congratulated him on his victory, but said the result was “not the outcome I hoped for” and would cause “a real sense of anxiety” among many people around the world.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson - who once quipped that the only reason he would not visit parts of New York was the risk of bumping into Mr Trump - released a statement to say: “Congratulations to Donald Trump and much looking forward to working with his administration on global stability and prosperity. I believe passionately in the importance of the UK-US relationship and am confident we can take it forward together.”

Guests watch the results on the television monitor during Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's election night rallyGuests watch the results on the television monitor during Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's election night rally
Guests watch the results on the television monitor during Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's election night rally
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In her response, released by Downing Street about 90 minutes after Mr Trump was declared winner, Mrs May said she was looking forward to working with the new president, adding: “Britain and the United States have an enduring and special relationship based on the values of freedom, democracy and enterprise.

“We are, and will remain, strong and close partners on trade, security and defence.”

Mr Corbyn said many people would be “understandably shocked” by the result.

“This is a rejection of a failed economic consensus and a governing elite that has been seen not to have listened,” said the Labour leader. “And the public anger that has propelled Donald Trump to office has been reflected in political upheavals across the world.

Donald Trump has taken four key swing states, including FloridaDonald Trump has taken four key swing states, including Florida
Donald Trump has taken four key swing states, including Florida
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“But some of Trump’s answers to the big questions facing America, and the divisive rhetoric around them, are clearly wrong. I have no doubt, however, that the decency and common sense of the American people will prevail, and we send our solidarity to a nation of migrants, innovators and democrats.”

There was a horrified response from many on the Labour backbenches. Mr Corbyn’s former challenger for the party leadership, Owen Smith, described the result as a “disaster”, saying: “I just think racists, chauvinists, sexists and conmen are wrong. And Trump is all those things.”

Chuka Umunna described Mr Trump’s victory as “terrible news”, while former foreign affairs spokeswoman Diana Johnson said it was “an American tragedy”.

One-time leadership challenger Angela Eagle said it was time to “fight back” against the “politics of grievance”.

Donald Trump has taken four key swing states, including FloridaDonald Trump has taken four key swing states, including Florida
Donald Trump has taken four key swing states, including Florida
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Former shadow business minister Kevin Brennan branded Mr Trump a “pig’s bladder on a stick” and added: “The late New York governor Mario Cuomo said, ‘We campaign in poetry, we govern in prose’. Trump campaigned in bigotry - how will he govern?”

Shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon said it was “deeply worrying that Trump - given what he has said, given what he has done and given what he believes - has been elected leader of the most powerful country on Earth”.

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said she was “heartbroken” by the result, adding: “The most-qualified female presidential candidate ever has been defeated by the least-qualified male presidential candidate ever.”

Conservative MP George Freeman, who chairs Downing Street’s Policy Unit, said: “It’s clear we’re living through a genuine crisis of legitimacy sweeping Western political economy. To regain the respect and legitimacy for mainstream national political leadership we need to be bold in tackling the root causes of despair.”