Starmer offers congratulations to Trump for 'historic victory'

Keir Starmer has congratulated Donald Trump on his "historic election victory" and said that "as the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defence of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise".

- Caroline Davies, Peter Walker

The prime minister said the UK-US special relationship would "continue to prosper". However, facing Kemi Badenoch for the first time at prime minister's questions hours later, Starmer faced pressure from the new Conservative leader over Labour politicians' previous comments about the US president-elect.

Citing comments in 2018 by David Lammy, who called Trump "a woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath", Badenoch asked if the foreign secretary and Starmer had met Trump during a visit to New York in September. She went on: "And if he did not apologise, will the prime minister do so now on his behalf?"

Badenoch called on Starmer to request that the speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, invite Trump to address parliament when he next visits the UK, and "show that he and his government can be more than student politicians". Starmer replied to loud cheers: "I think the leader of the opposition is giving a masterclass on student politics."