Politics latest: Tube strikes called off with days to spare

Sir Keir Starmer is on his feet in the House of Commons, where he is facing off with Kemi Badenoch at Prime Minister’s Questions for the first time.

Ms Badenoch became leader of the Conservative Party last Saturday, and was still appointing her top team yesterday.

Sir Keir starts off by congratulating Donald Trump on his victory.

He said he looks forward to working with him “in the years to come” – and mentions how he had dinner with him recently.

The PM also welcomes new Tory leader Ms Badenoch.

In June 2019, Sir Keir Starmer wrote about the two people he liked least in global politics: “An endorsement from Donald Trump tells you everything you need to know about what is wrong with Boris Johnson’s politics and why he isn’t fit to be prime minister.”

The same month, again, he railed: “Humanity and dignity. Two words not understood by President Trump.”

Back then, Theresa May was prime minister, Jeremy Corbyn was leading Labour, and Sir Keir was already in discussions about seizing the crown if his party lost the election.

So his tweets were intended as a harmless gesture to boost his appeal to Labour supporters who could unite around a common political foe.

Needless to say, they were not meant to have a lasting diplomatic legacy.

As if that wasn’t awkward enough…

Sir Keir’s now foreign secretary was even less diplomatic. Back in 2017, David Lammy – who was sitting out the Corbyn era and unconstrained by front bench strictures – said Trump was promoting “a fascist, racist, extremist hate group”.

Addressing the then president directly, Lammy intoned: “You are not welcome in my country and my city.”

These two men must now hope these outbursts are long forgotten, and they can work with one of the most capricious, unpredictable and vain politicians on the planet.

Repairing this breach has been one of Lammy’s main tasks ever since he was appointed shadow foreign secretary in November 2021.

Repairing relations

Having spent his childhood summers in New York before attending Harvard Law School, Lammy is no stranger to US politics. He went at least five times in opposition, prioritising relations with Republicans.

His Rolodex of Republicans now includes Robert O’Brien, the fourth and final national security adviser in the first Trump presidency; Mike Pompeo, the ex-secretary of state; and Elbridge Colby, who could head to the defence department or security job on Trump’s return to power.

Such was Lammy’s success charming Colby, a China hawk who one would think would have a natural affinity with the Tories, he recently gave a remarkable interview to The Telegraph which suggests some genuine progress has been made.

“I’ve been struck that Lammy has made a real effort to reach out to conservatives and new-Right people in the United States,” Colby said. “I like what I’m hearing from Lammy and [Defence Secretary John] Healey.”

As for Lammy’s past comments, they were excused.

‘Gesture of friendship’

Then there’s Trump’s pick for vice president, JD Vance. Lammy first met him long before Trump’s selection as his number two – ironically they were both Trump critics once, bonding over their respective books, growing up in tough places and being lawyers.

The challenge will be leveraging that link into something more meaningful when the most unpredictable of characters walks back into the White House in January, but the last two months have shown just how unpredictable relations are likely to be.

The high was a two-hour dinner in Trump Tower in September with Trump, Starmer and Lammy, which one UK official said was seen as a “gesture of friendship”.

The low point was the publicity around Labour’s campaigning effort for the Democrats, involving dozens of party figures trying to prevent Trump’s victory, an effort weaponised by the candidate himself with his campaign bringing legal proceedings.

What happens next?

However, global issues – and the impact of US domestic policy – could yet sour global relations.

Lots of thought has gone into how the UK and EU countries will deal with the possible threats to NATO and Trump’s stance on Ukraine.

In Whitehall, they are clinging to the idea Trump’s love of dealmaking might mean he brings pressure to bear on Russian President Vladimir Putin rather than simply walking away.

Where the UK feels less prepared is in the impending trade war, with the Trump threat of a 10% tariff on goods being imported to the US.

Manufacturers have been pleading with ministers in the business department to take the threat seriously, while some Labour MPs think a Trump win will mean a material hit to GDP growth.

Economic and global turbulence is never without cost, but the Starmer government is hoping it has done what is practically possible to provide a modicum of insulation.

They will soon find out if it works.

Reform MP Lee Anderson has been told to apologise in the House of Commons for “swearing twice at a security officer after his pass did not work” entering parliament.

A report by the Independent Expert Panel (IEP) now requires Mr Anderson to “make an apology in the House of Commons for a breach of parliament’s bullying and harassment policy”.

The MP was found to have sworn twice at a security officer after his pass did not work when he was trying to enter the parliamentary estate in November 2023.

The finding followed a complaint made to the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) and an investigation by an independent investigator appointed by the ICGS who recommended the complaint should be upheld.

Mr Anderson appealed the finding to the IEP, but the sub-panel considering the case dismissed the appeal, concluding it failed to raise any substantive grounds.

It concluded Mr Anderson should apologise to the complainant, and to the House by way of a personal statement.

Today is a day many Conservative activists have long been waiting for: Kemi Badenoch unleashed at PMQs.

I am told to expect a typically unconventional approach at the despatch box from the new Tory leader, whose team say she will “delicately dismantle” Sir Keir Starmer’s arguments.

Sir Keir does not lack experience however – he is facing his fourth Conservative leader in as many years, and it remains to be seen if she can really land any major blows.

An extraordinary backdrop

The backdrop for Ms Badenoch’s first PMQs outing is extraordinary: a decisive Donald Trump election victory overnight, and a new world outlook this morning.

She will almost certainly lead on the US election.

Both Ms Badenoch and Sir Keir have congratulated Mr Trump, but expect the Conservative leader to again push on the idea of the PM being a “student politician”unable to handle the new president-elect.

Three key questions

It is also the first time we will see the newly assembled Tory front bench.

Will the faces of her former leadership rivals Priti Patel, Mel Stride and Robert Jenrick give anything away?

Will the person many Conservatives see as their only great hope prove her worth as an orator?

Will Keir Starmer fight fire with fire?

Whatever happens, this is a PMQs worth watching.

Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, was next to react to the news from the US.

He said: “I know that many Londoners will be anxious about the outcome of the US presidential election. 

“Many will be fearful about what it will mean for democracy and for women’s rights, or how the result impacts the situation in the Middle East or the fate of Ukraine.

“Others will be worried about the future of NATO or tackling the climate crisis.

“London is – and will always be – for everyone. We will always be pro-women, pro-diversity, pro-climate and pro-human rights.”

Mr Khan added: “The lesson of today is that progress is not inevitable.

“But asserting our progressive values is more important than ever – re-committing to building a world where racism and hatred is rejected, the fundamental rights of women and girls are upheld, and where we continue to tackle the crisis of climate change head on.”

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch is the latest British political figure to send her congratulations to Donald Trump, as it appears clear he has won the US election.

She said: “The world faces many serious challenges and I look forward to our two countries working together to confront them.”

Carla Denyer, the co-leader of the Green Party, has piled in on the reaction to Donald Trump declaring victory in the UK presidential race.

She said: “A dangerous bigot, bully, and liar is once again set to become the leader of the most powerful country in the world. 

“A climate change denier, a proud racist and misogynist, and a man who has sought to subvert elections and incite insurrection.

“On this dark day, we stand in solidarity with all U.S. citizens who fear a convicted criminal and a fascist in the White House. 

“And we stand with all those around the world who dreaded this moment and must now live with its consequences, including those in Gaza and Ukraine.

“Together, those of us who believe in democracy must work together to overcome authoritarianism and the politics of hate.”

As a second Donald Trump presidency looks likely, British ministers have been congratulating him on his victory over Kamala Harris.

The latest comes from Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

He said: “Congratulations to Donald Trump on your victory.

“The UK has no greater friend than the US, with the special relationship being cherished on both sides of the Atlantic for more than 80 years.

“We look forward to working with you and JD Vance in the years ahead.”

His message is a different tone to another he sent in 2017, when Mr Lammy dubbed Trump a “racist KKK and Nazi sympathiser”.

He said: “If Trump comes to the UK I will be out protesting on the streets.”

By Ben Bloch, political reporter

Americans are awaiting the results of the presidential election.

Here’s what a Donald Trump return could mean for the UK.

The future of NATO

Since he left office in January 2021, former members of Trump’s top team have spoken out, recalling just how close he came to withdrawing the US from the NATO alliance.

A full US withdrawal during a second term would be unlikely, but he will likely demand members dramatically increase defence spending or face the removal of the US security umbrella.

The UK exceeds the NATO target of spending 2% of GDP on defence, and is aiming to spend 2.5%, so is unlikely to face his ire.

But there is no doubt any weakening of NATO and an apparent unwillingness from the US president to come to the aid of allies would embolden Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

War in Ukraine

Trump stated as recently as September he has a “very good relationship” with Putin and claims he could end the Ukraine war almost immediately.

He’s never spelled out how he would achieve that, and has repeatedly refused to say if he thinks Ukraine should cede territory to Russia – a possibility completely at odds with the UK’s position.

If Mr Trump comes up with a deal with Russia that Ukraine is unhappy with, or even blocks Ukraine’s pathway to NATO membership, this could lead to a significant fracture in the relationship.

Peace in the Middle East?

Trump has offered his backing to Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu, has reportedly backed Israel’s “war on terror”and views Iran as an enemy.

His first term saw the signing of the Abraham Accords, which normalised relations between Israel and four Arab countries for the first time, and he could decide he wants to try to make peace in the Middle East.

But the Palestinian leadership has been clear that it has no trust in Trump, and they’d be unlikely to want to engage with him.

Nonetheless, a push for a ceasefire from a US president with the ear of Netanyahu would be significant, and any cessation of hostilities would certainly ease domestic political pressure on Sir Keir Starmer.

A UK-US trade deal

One of the much-vaunted opportunities of Brexit was a trade deal with the US, but that has not yet materialised – and nor is it likely to be a priority for a second Trump term.

Even if he were open to it, the government will not be receptive to Trump’s desire to open up the UK’s health care market to US companies, nor relax animal welfare standards to allow the import of US meat.

The more likely scenario is that Trump will follow through on his promise to impose 10%-20% tariffs on all imports to the US in a bid to encourage consumers to buy American.

That would badly hurt the UK – the US is Britain’s largest export market, reaching a value of £188.2bn in the year to October.

The personal touch

What could hurt US-UK relations under Trump are previous comments members of Starmer’s top team have made.

In 2018, the now foreign secretary David Lammy called the then president “a woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath”.

Reform leader Nigel Farage’s strong relationship with Trump could also cause problems.

But Trump does have personal affinity for the UK – his mother was born in Scotland, and his second golf course there, to be named after her, is due to open next year.

His wife Melania has also recently claimed the Trumps are in touch with King Charles, and the former president met Starmer for a two-hour dinner at Trump Tower in New York in September.