Donald Trump’s victory is a dark day for mankind, the Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has warned.
Responding to Mr Trump’s emphatic win, he called on the government to urgently repair Britain’s post-Brexit relationship with the European Union now that the world’s largest economy and its most powerful military “will be led by a dangerous, destructive demagogue”.
Stronger trade and defence cooperation across Europe would “help protect ourselves from the damage Trump will do”, he added.
Sir Ed’s comments were in stark contrast to those of the prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, who congratulated Mr Trump and said the UK-US special relationship would “continue to prosper” following the former president’s “historic election victory”.
In the run-up to the election, Mr Trump threatened to impose tariffs on all imports to the US, a move that the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, a British think tank, has warned could halve UK economic growth.
Experts have warned of a looming trade war after Mr Trump said “Tariff is my favourite word” and threatened to impose a blanket 10 per cent minimum tariff on all imports, with the levy rising as high as 60 per cent for goods from China.
Responding to Mr Trump’s electoral success, Sir Ed said: “This is a dark, dark day for people around the globe. The world’s largest economy and most powerful military will be led by a dangerous, destructive demagogue.
“The next president of the United States is a man who actively undermines the rule of law, human rights, international trade, climate action and global security.
"Millions of Americans – especially women and minorities – will be incredibly fearful about what comes next. We stand with them.”
He said that families across the UK will also be worrying about the damage Mr Trump “will do to our economy and our national security, given his record of starting trade wars, undermining Nato, and emboldening tyrants like Putin”.
“Fixing the UK’s broken relationship with the EU is even more urgent than before,” said Sir Ed, adding that the UK needs to strengthen trade and defence cooperation across the continent in order to “help protect ourselves from the damage Trump will do”.
He said that the UK must now stand up for core liberal values, including equality, democracy, human rights and the rule of law, at home and around the world.
Sir Keir, who is keen to build bridges with the president-elect after Mr Trump’s campaign filed a legal complaint about Labour activists supporting Kamala Harris, sent his congratulations on the “historic election victory”, saying: “I look forward to working with you in the years ahead. As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defence of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise.”
He added: “From growth and security to innovation and tech, I know that the UK-US special relationship will continue to prosper on both sides of the Atlantic for years to come.”
Alongside Sir Ed’s comments, there have been other calls for Britain to urgently rebuild ties with Europe following Mr Trump’s victory.
Former Liberal Democrat minister Sir Nick Harvey, chief executive of the European Movement UK, told The Independent that Britain must “make a clear choice to be part of a strong Europe”, in terms of strength on defence and security as well as trade and the economy.
Naomi Smith, chief executive of the pro-Europe campaign group Best for Britain, said: “Today, the world became a more dangerous place, with a volatile, authoritarian isolationist back in the White House.
“Britain’s response must be to deepen ties with our European allies on defence and trade to protect the economic interests and security of our continent, including Ukraine.”
