Starmer snubs call to apologise at PMQs over Lammy’s ‘Neo-Nazi’ Trump jibes – UK politics live – UK Times

Sir Ed Davey appears to be the only politician with the courage to stand up to what Donald Trump stands for.

With much of the western world in mourning about the result in the USA and the fears over the Ukraine war very real, Sir Ed stands alone in talking about these threats publicly.

Many will feel uncomfortable about the way the Labour prime minister is now trying to cosy up t Trump – even if he has little choice. This may be the first time Davey has sounded like a serious opposition leader since his Lib Dems won 72 seats in July.

Keir Starmer was met with laughter from the Opposition benches and silence from his own side when he congratulated president elect Donald Trump.

He will be hoping that the dinner he had a few weeks ago will put aside the other issues of his foreign secretary David Lammy’s tweets about Trump from a few years ago and the complaints from the Trump camp of election interference from Labour.

It is going to be a painful start but Sir Keir knows he needs to try to keep the UK/ US special relationship strong especially with Brexit isolating Britain from Europe.

Kemi Badenoch has urged Sir Keir Starmer to invite to President Trump to address parliament on his next visit to the UK.

The new Tory leader urged the prime minister to ask the Commons Speaker to extend the invitation to the president elect, who swept to victory in the US election overnight.

Addressing the House of Commons at her first PMQs as leader of the opposition, Ms Badenoch said: “Will the prime minister show that he and his government can be more than student politicians by asking you Mr Speaker to extend an invitation to President Trump to address parliament on his next visit?”

Responding, Sir Keir hit back: “I think the leader of the opposition is giving a masterclass on student politics.

“But seriously, Mr Speaker, we live in a more volatile world than we’ve lived in for recent decades. It’s absolutely crucial that we have a strong relationship, that strong special relationship, forged in difficult circumstances between the US and UK. We will continue to work as we have done in the four months in government on issues of security, the economy and global conflict.”

The new Tory leader wastes no time in attacking Labour on the story of the day and she reminds the house of foreign secretary David Lammy calling Donald Trump a “neo Nazi sympathiser” among other disobliging comments.

She knows that this is a very awkward position for Starmer and a cabinet which signed a petition to keep Trump from addressing parliament.

She repeats her accusation that they are “student politicians”.

Calls for Trump to be invited to address Parliament. This is a different more rightwing Tory leader.

Sir Keir Starmer has opened PMQs by congratulating Donald Trump on his “historic election victory”, as well as welcoming new Tory leader Kemi Badenoch.

The prime minister said: “As the closest of allies, the UK and the US will continue to work together to protect our shared values of freedom and democracy.

“Having had dinner with President Trump just a few weeks ago, I look forward to working with him in the years to come.”

Welcoming Kemi Badenoch, who won the Tory leadership race last weekend, Sir Keir said: “May I also welcome the leader of the opposition to her place – my fourth tory leader in four and a half years. But I do look forward to working with her in the interests of the public.”

Responding, Ms Badenoch thanked him for his “almost warm welcome”, promising to be a “constructive opposition”.

PMQs is about to get underway with Kemi Badenoch facing off against Keir Starmer for the first time as Tory leader.

You can watch them trading barbs here.

While still bringing you the local political reactions this historic day in the US, we’re going to feed in a bit more of what’s going on in the UK, and with Kemi Badenoch preparing her first face-off against Prime Minister Keir Starmer as Tory leader in PMQs, she is expected to pursue the government over continuing discontent in some corners from Rachel Reeves’ budget recent budget.

One topic that could come up for debate is the change to inheritance tax that will see a 20 per cent levy on farms worth more than £1 million, which has caused an outcry across Britain’s farming industry and been dubbed the “tractor tax”.

“The need to strengthen ties with our neighbours in Europe is now more urgent than ever, as is the importance of ensuring that governments remain true to their word and listen to the voices of the most marginalised in society,” the Welsh nationalist party leader posted on social media platform X.

His input reflects that of London mayor Sadiq Khan, who warned of a regression in women’s rights, as well as Labour MP Emily Thornberry, who said the UK would have to look to country’s with similar values for stability if the Starmer government and a Trump administration could not agree.

Earlier, Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey warned of a “dark, dark day for people around the globe“.

New Conversative leader Kemi Badenoch has also congratulated Donald Trump on his election victory.

“The world faces many serious challenges and I look forward to our two countries working together to confront them,” Ms Badenoch posted on X earlier this morning.

Badenoch, who was recently chosen to lead the opposition party months after its electoral defeat, is due to face Prime Minister Keir Starmer in her first PMQs as leader, and we will bring you blow-by-blow coverage of those moments after midday.

Former Conservative MP and podcasters Rory Stewart has taken to social media platform X this morning to express his misery at a Donald Trump victory.

“For the record – I was completely wrong about Kamala Harris. It is heartbreaking that Trump is now the President,” posted Stewart, who cohosts the popular Rest is Politics podcast with former Blair government adviser Alistair Campbell.

While he didn’t elaborate, he recently told an event in Sydney, Australia, Democratic candidate Harris would win comfortably.