Chancellor Rachel Reeves has sought to play down the impact of foreign secretary David Lammy’s past comments about Donald Trump.
Speaking in Manchester today, Ms Reeves pointed out that JD Vance had used “choice words” about the newly-elected US president, but was still chosen as his running mate.
The US election result has shone a new spotlight on an article written by Mr Lammy in 2018. “Trump is not only a woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath,” the then backbencher wrote.
Shadow chancellor Mel Stride said past the comments had put Labour in a “difficult position already” ahead of talks with the new US administration.
But Ms Reeves said: “Well, look, the vice president-elect of the United States has used some choice words about the president-elect in the past, but the point is those comments were in the past.”
She also highlighted that Sir Keir Starmer and Mr Lammy had met Mr Trump for dinner in New York recently.
Meanwhile, an offer by Nigel Farage to help “bridge the divide” between the UK government and Donald Trump’s administration has been snubbed.
Cabinet officer minister Pat McFadden told Times Radio: “I think we’ll have our own relationships.”
Key points
- ‘Those comments were in the past’ - Reeves on Trump criticism
- Trump won’t forget Lammy Neo-Nazi comments, says ex-aide
- Mike Amesbury charged with assault
- Bank of England cuts interest rates
Sir Keir Starmer and Trump hope special relationship would continue to thrive for years
Wednesday 6 November 2024 21:41 , Barney DavisA Downing Street spokeswoman said: “The Prime Minister spoke to president-elect Donald Trump this evening to congratulate him on his historic victory.
“The Prime Minister offered his hearty congratulations and said he looked forward to working closely with president-elect Trump across all areas of the special relationship.
“From defence and security to growth and prosperity, the relationship between the UK and US was incredibly strong and would continue to thrive for many years to come, the leaders agreed.
“The Prime Minister also reflected on the situation in the Middle East and underscored the importance of regional stability.
“The leaders fondly recalled their meeting in September, and president-elect Trump’s close connections and affinity to the United Kingdom and looked forward to working with one another.”
Rachel Reeves’ Budget to ‘rebuild Britain’ has cleared its first Commons hurdle
Wednesday 6 November 2024 21:45 , Barney DavisRachel Reeves’ Budget, which she said will “rebuild Britain”, has cleared its first Commons hurdle.
MPs approved a series of Budget resolutions on Wednesday, which included an increase to employers’ national insurance contributions, a new tax on vapes, and a £22.6 billion boost to day-to-day NHS spending.
Other measures brought forward in the Budget include £11.8 billion in compensation for the infected blood scandal victims, imposing VAT on private school fees, and abolishing the non-dom tax regime.
The Chancellor has faced criticism for changes to inheritance tax for farmers, with many opposition MPs calling for the Government to reconsider this proposal.
Under the plans, inheritance tax will be charged at 20% on farms worth more than £1 million, although Ms Reeves has said that in some cases the threshold could in practice be about £3 million.
‘A lot of things that have been said over the years’ - Pat McFadden
08:33 , Alex RossCabinet Office minister Pat McFadden has said comments made by Labour Cabinet ministers about Donald Trump will not “interfere” in the “important alliance” between the UK and US.
He told Sky News: “I think a lot of things that have been said over the years, but not just here in the UK, including in the US. If you look at what Vice President Elect JD Vance said about President Trump, he mused whether this was going to be another Richard Nixon or America’s Hitler, and it’s not held him back from being the running mate.
“Elon Musk as well, advised Trump to walk off into the sunset a couple of years ago, and he’s become President Trump’s biggest, biggest backer in business. So I think a number of things have been said over the years, but the truth is, the alliance between Britain and the United States is long and deep and enduring.”
He added: “I don’t think any of these things will interfere in what is such an important alliance for the world, based on defence, security, shared values, shared history. It’s all more important than all of those things, and that is the footing we begin on, and that’s the footing that we’ll continue on.”
Trump said ‘a lot of fiery things’ in election campaign - McFadden
08:41 , Alex RossPresident-elect Donald Trump said “a lot of fiery things” in his election campaign as he urged the public to “wait to see what he actually does” on potential tariffs, said cabinet office minister Pat McFadden.
Asked about the impact a more isolationist US would have on the UK economy Mr McFadden told Sky News: “I think you’ve got to understand that in an election, a lot of fiery things are said, and President-elect Trump says a lot of fiery things, and the important thing is what he actually does.
“We obviously have interests as a trading nation. We want to protect and look after our interests, and we always want to have a dialogue with the US administration about those.
“But for anyone speculating about what exactly will happen, I would advise let’s wait to see what he actually does, rather than take everything said in a campaign.”
Starmer’s first phone call to Trump was a ‘congratulations on your win'
08:52 , Alex RossMore now on that phone call between Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump.
Downing Street said Sir Keir spoke to the new US president last night - today, cabinet office minister Pat McFadden has been asked what was said.
Questioned on Sky News if Ukraine was discussed, Mr McFadden said: “I’m not sure. To be honest, I think it was more a ‘congratulations on your win’ call.
“We’ve just been through a election campaign a few months ago here. So we know how stressful these things can be. There’s always a relief if you get to the end of it.”
He added: “(Ukraine) is very important. It’s very important we back Ukraine in its fight to decide its own destiny, in its fight against Russian aggression, and in the Budget last week, the chancellor reiterated the support and the aid that the UK gives to Ukraine. That hasn’t changed with the election result in the United States.
“We want to back Ukraine, back Ukraine fully in the fight that they’re having, because it’s also in our interests, in our defence and security interests for Russian aggression not to go unanswered.”
What’s happening today
08:59 , Alex RossA day after Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election was confirmed, politicians continue to discuss the result, and the likely consequences.
Today, Sir Keir Starmer expected to attend the European Political Community summit in Hungary.
It was set up in 2022 – following the Russian invasion of Ukraine – to hold political and strategic conversations about the future of European nations.
At the meeting, Mr Trump’s election victory is certain to come up - we’ll be bringing updates from that later.
Also today, at noon, the Bank of England will announce the latest interest rates. You can follow live coverage by clicking here.
Trump won’t forget Lammy Neo-Nazi comments, says former White House press secretary
09:10 , Lucy LeesonDonald Trump won’t forget David Lammy’s Neo-Nazi comments, former White House press secretary Sean Spicer has said.
Mr Spicer was quizzed on whether previous comments made by the Labour foreign secretary could impact the US-UK relationship.
Mr Lammy previously described Trump as a “Neo-Nazi sympathizer” and “sociopath”.
ITV’s Robert Peston asked Mr Spicer on Wednesday (6 November): “Is Donald Trump the kind of person that just forgets those sorts of remarks?
Mr Spicer replied: “No, I don’t think he does, but with anything, there is always room for negotiations.”
Labour in a ‘difficult position’ over comments made about Donald Trump
09:41 , Alex RossTory leader Kemi Badenoch asked if Sir Keir Starmer would apologise for comments made by David Lammy six years ago.
Today, shadow chancellor Mel Stride criticised comments made by government figures over Mr Trump following the US election.
He said Labour government were in a “difficult position already” with Trump’s administration.
Asked how he would respond to potential tariffs the president-elect has suggested he may impose on the UK, Mr Stride told the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It’s important that in that context, we do whatever we can to make sure that those relationships, that the mood music, that the relationships with the administration are strong and positive, and as I say, I do think it’s material the fact that this government has ended up in a position where it is in a difficult position already with the Trump administration, based on the comments that have been made.
“And that’s why Kemi (Badenoch) was quite right yesterday to call for those comments to be withdrawn and for an apology to be made.”
‘I look forward to working together’ - Starmer on Trump
10:40 , Alex RossAfter Keir Starmer spoke to Donald Trump following his US election victory last night, the prime minister shared a message on X, formerly Twitter, on the phone call.
He wrote: Good to speak with President-elect Donald Trump to congratulate him on his historic victory. I look forward to working together.
“From defence and security to growth and prosperity, the relationship between the UK and US is incredibly strong and will continue to thrive for many years to come.”
Good to speak with President-elect @realDonaldTrump to congratulate him on his historic victory. I look forward to working together.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) November 6, 2024
From defence and security to growth and prosperity, the relationship between the UK and US is incredibly strong and will continue to thrive for… pic.twitter.com/PXRFfudRIN
UK announces 56 new sanctions against Russia
11:11 , Alex RossThe UK has announced 56 new sanctions against Russia, including against Salisbury poisoning suspect Denis Sergeev.
The sanctions will directly target the supply of goods to Russia’s military and constrain vital resources crucial to conduct Vladimir Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine, the Foreign Office has said.
Foreign secretary David Lammy said: “Today’s measures will continue to push back on the Kremlin’s corrosive foreign policy, undermining Russia’s attempts to foster instability across Africa and disrupting the supply of vital equipment for Putin’s war machine. And smashing the illicit international networks that Russia has worked so hard to forge.
“Putin is nearly 1,000 days into a war he thought would only take a few. He will fail and I will continue to bear down on the Kremlin and support the Ukrainian people in their fight for freedom.
“Today’s sanctions further build on the UK’s mission to combat Russian malign activity globally.
“Over the last month the UK has directly targeted Russia’s illicit shadow fleet, condemned the abhorrent use of banned chemical weapons in Ukraine, cracked down on malicious Russian cyber gangs and sanctioned the Kremlin’s mouthpieces who recklessly spread Putin’s lies across the world.”
What other European leaders have been saying after Trump’s election victory
11:40 , Alex RossEuropean leaders have been keen to stress that the transatlantic relationship transcends individual politicians, but Trump’s protectionist economic leanings are causing concern.
During his last term he slapped tariffs on European steel and aluminum, roiling the bloc’s economy.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed that the EU and the US “are bound by a true partnership between our people, uniting 800 million citizens. Let us work together on a transatlantic partnership that continues to deliver for our citizens”.
France’s centrist President Emmanuel Macron offered congratulations, “respect and ambition.”
Social Democratic German Chancellor Olaf Scholz congratulated Trump and said he wanted continued close ties, even if “surely many things will be different under a Donald Trump-led administration.”Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, whose far right-led government is in some ways close to Trump politically, said Italy and the US had a “strategic bond, which I am sure we will now strengthen even more.”
Europe’s populist politicians, meanwhile, welcomed the victory of a kindred spirit.
“They threatened him with prison, they took his property, they wanted to kill him ... and he still won,” said Hungary’s nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who will hold a summit of EU leaders in Budapest today.
Living standards ‘a big theme in the US election'
11:46 , Alex RossAs analysis is done on the result of the US election, many journalists and politicans have been asking what led to voters backing Donald Trump.
On LBC this morning, cabinet office minister Pat McFadden said living standards were a “big theme in the US election”.
But he said Labour will not “lecture” other centre-left parties on their campaigns following its election win.
He said: “In the Budget last week, you saw us raising the minimum wage, making sure the triple lock was kept for the next few years, keeping the freeze on fuel duty – issues which people care about on a month to month basis as they work out their budget.
“And I think that was a big theme in the US election, and it’s something that was at the heart of our Budget that was passed by the House of Commons last night.”
Asked if centre-left politics is under threat with a loss by the Democrats in the US and the collapse of Olaf Scholz’s government in Germany, Mr McFadden said: “I don’t want to give anybody any lectures.
“I know what it’s like to be on the losing end of an election, as the Democrats were the other night, and I know what it’s like to be on the winning end and so what my focus is, rather than lecturing others is remembering what we did to change the Labour Party, to focus on those living standards issues that I spoke about, and to put them into practice, as we did in the Budget last week.”
Sir John Nott, defence secretary during Falklands War, dies aged 92
11:57 , Alex RossSir John Nott, the defence secretary during the Falklands War, has died aged 92.
The senior Conservative twice offered his resignation to Margaret Thatcher after the Argentinian invasion of the South Atlantic islands in 1982 but she refused to accept it, instead keeping him in place for the successful liberation operation.
Apart from the war, the most memorable moment of his political career was storming out of a TV interview with broadcaster Sir Robin Day later in 1982.
During questions on defence spending, he lost his temper when Sir Robin asked why people should listen to a “transient, here today and, if I may say so, gone tomorrow politician” rather than veteran Royal Navy chiefs pushing for more cash.
Bank of England cuts interest rates
12:07 , Alex RossThe Bank of England has cut interest rates to 4.75% at its November Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, the second reduction of UK borrowing costs in four months.
Eight of the committee members voted in favour of cutting the base rate, versus one who preferred to keep it unchanged.
Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey said: “We need to make sure inflation stays close to target, so we can’t cut interest rates too quickly or by too much.
“But if the economy evolves as we expect it’s likely that interest rates will continue to fall gradually from here.”
Interest rate fall is ‘welcome news for millions of families’ - Reeves
12:17 , Alex RossChancellor Rachel Reeves has responded to the Bank of England’s decision to cut the interest rate from 5 per cent to 4.75 per cent.
She said: “Today’s interest rate cut will be welcome news for millions of families, but I am under no illusion about the scale of the challenge facing households after the previous Government’s mini-budget.
“This government’s first Budget has set out how we are taking the long-term decisions to fix the foundations to deliver change by investing in the NHS and rebuilding Britain, while ensuring working people don’t face higher taxes in their payslips.”
Mike Amesbury charged with assault
12:20 , Alex RossMP Mike Amesbury has been charged with assault after an incident in his Runcorn and Helsby constituency.
The charge relates to reports of an attack on a 45-year-old man on Main Street, Frodsham, which was reported to police at 2.48am on Saturday 26 October.
Cheshire Police said the MP has been summonsed to court to face the charge of section 39 assault. The 55-year-old is set to appear in magistrates court at a later date.
The MP lost the Labour whip in October, with the party saying he had been suspended “pending an investigation” into the incident.
Mike Amesbury charged with assault after incident involving suspended Labour MP
Labour minister rejects Farage’s offer to help on establishing relationship with Trump
12:26 , Alex RossWriting in the Daily Telegraph, Nigel Farage, a well-known supporter of Donald Trump, has offered to help the Labour government establish a good relationship with the Trump administration.
He wrote: “Britain is really going to have to roll out the red carpet for Trump very quickly. If we don’t, a great opportunity will be squandered.”
Then added: “If I can be helpful in any way when it comes to bridging the divide that exists between Starmer’s government and Trump, I will be glad to assist.
“I might not agree with almost anything that Starmer and his cabinet stand for, but I do believe in something called the national interest.”
In response, cabinet officer minister Pat McFadden told Times Radio: “I think we’ll have our own relationships.”
‘Those comments were in the past’ - Reeves on Trump criticism
13:24 , Alex RossChancellor Rachel Reeves sought to play down the impact that foreign secretary David Lammy’s past criticism of Donald Trump would have on UK-US relations.
Mr Lammy described the president-elect as a “neo-Nazi sympathising sociopath” in 2018.
Ms Reeves pointed out that JD Vance had used “choice words” about Mr Trump himself but was still chosen as his running mate.
The Chancellor told reporters in Manchester: “Well, look, the vice president-elect of the United States has used some choice words about the president-elect in the past, but the point is those comments were in the past.
“The prime minister and the foreign secretary met with President-elect Trump just a few weeks ago in New York for dinner.
“They had a really good meeting a constructive meeting and I have absolutely no doubt we will be able to work constructively with the new US administration under President-elect Donald Trump.”
MP Mike Amesbury charged - CPS issues statement
13:50 , Alex RossIn the wake of MP Mike Amesbury being charged with assault, we’ve now received a statement from the Crown Prosection Service.
Head of the service’s special crime division, Rosemary Ainslie, said: “Following a review of the evidence provided by Cheshire Police, we have authorised a charge of common assault against Mike Amesbury MP, 55.
“The charge follows an alleged assault in Frodsham, Cheshire, on Saturday, October 26 2024.
“The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against the defendant are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.
“It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”
Mike Amesbury issues statement
14:10 , Alex RossMP Mike Amesbury has issued a statement after he was charged with common assault.
The Runcorn and Helsby MP, who was suspended from Labour after the footage circulated last month, will appear before magistrates at a later date.
Mr Amesbury said: “I have today been summonsed to court to face a charge of common assault following an incident in Frodsham last month, which was deeply regrettable.
“I am continuing to cooperate with police and given this is an ongoing case I cannot comment further.”
More than 3,000 migrants crossed Channel in busiest fortnight so far this year
14:30 , Alex RossMore than 3,000 migrants arrived in the UK in the busiest fortnight of Channel crossings so far this year.
A total of 3,197 people made the journey between October 24 and November 6, Home Office figures show.
This is the busiest 14-day period of crossings for the year so far, according to analysis by the PA news agency.
It comes as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is set to sign new agreements to intercept criminal gangs smuggling migrants through the Western Balkans as part of efforts to bring down small boat crossings.
Sir Keir will announce the deals to boost intelligence sharing, expertise and co-operation with Serbia, North Macedonia and Kosovo at a meeting of the European Political Community in Budapest, Hungary, on Thursday.
He is expected to urge European partners to take action to reduce deaths in the Channel during small boat crossings and tell them that lawful, international co-operation will be key to efforts.
Rachel Reeves in Manchester over plans to upgrade northern transport links
15:25 , Alex RossA week after she unveiled plans to upgrade transport links in the northern England in her Budget, chancellor Rachel Reeves is today in Manchester.
Last week’s announcement will see the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) between York, Leeds, Huddersfield and Manchester was secured.
Ms Reeves said the A57 will also receive a “long awaited upgrade”.
She was joined by transport secretary Louise Haigh and mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, during her visit.
She said: “Securing the delivery of these two important schemes brings our key Northern economic centres closer together.”
Starmer in conversation with Zelensky after new Russia sanctions
15:55 , Alex RossEarlier today we shared how the UK had announced a wave of new sanctiosn against Russia, with suppliers helping Russia’s military production in sub-Saharan Africa targeted.
Foreign secretary David Lammy said the sanctions “build on the UK’s mission to combat Russian malign activity globally”.
Now we’re seeing pictures of prime minister Sir Keir Starmer talking to Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky in Budapest during the meeting of the European Political Community.
The body was set up in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine.
Starmer’s battle on smuggling gangs - what are the agreements being signed
16:30 , Alex RossAs earlier reported, prime minister Sir Keir Starmer is expected to sign new agreements to intercept criminal gangs smuggling migrants through the Western Balkans when he meets EU leaders today.
It’s all part of efforts to bring down small boat crossings - but comes as it was revealed more than 3,000 migrants crossed the Channel between October 24 and November 6, the busiest fortnight for crossings this year.
At the European Political Community summit in Budapest, Sir Keir is expected to urge European partners to take action to reduce deaths in the Channel during small boat crossings and tell them that lawful, international co-operation will be key to efforts.
The deals he will announce will boost intelligence sharing, expertise and co-operation with Serbia, North Macedonia and Kosovo.
The Western Balkans is a key route used by migrants who end up in the EU or UK illegally. Almost 100,000 migrants travelled by that route last year.
Last night, Sir Keir said: “We need to go further and faster, alongside our international partners, and take the fight directly to the heart of these vile people smuggling networks.”
Deals with Western Balkans states ‘absolutely key to dismantling the criminal networks'
17:00 , Alex RossHome secretary Yvette Cooper has now also commented on the deals expected to be announced today by Sir Keir Starmer with Western Balkan states to tackle criminal gangs smuggling migrants.
The agreements with Serbia, North Macedonia and Kosovo will boost intelligence sharing, expertise and co-operation, Sir Keir said.
The prime minister made it one of his pledges before the election to tackle the smuggling gangs as concerns grow on the number of Channel crossings.
Ms Cooper said: “Our work with our partners in the Western Balkans is absolutely key to dismantling the criminal networks that orchestrate the exploitation of vulnerable people for financial gain.
“Working more closely with Serbia, North Macedonia and Kosovo, we will share information and intelligence, and work across borders to map out what is happening and where, to break the business models of these unscrupulous gangs at source.
“Through our intensified work, criminals will soon realise they have nowhere to hide.”
HS2 spending £100m to build bat ‘shed'
17:30 , Alex RossNow the political story today which will have raised a few eyebrows.
HS2 Ltd has confirmed it is spending more than £100m building a “shed” for bats despite there being “no evidence” that high-speed trains interfere with the protected species.
“We call it a shed. This shed, you’re not going to believe this, cost more than £100 million to protect the bats in this wood”, Sir Jon Thompson, chairman of the government-owned company told a rail industry conference today.
Full story from Millie Cooke here:
Schools must tackle the country’s absence epidemic, says Phillipson
18:00 , Alex RossLatest figures show the overall absence rate for the autumn and spring terms in schools in England was 7 per cent.
Speaking to hundreds of academy trust leaders today, education secretary Bridget Phillipson said she would not accept poor attendance levels caused by leadership practices.
Addressing 1,500 school and academy trust leaders at the Confederation of Schools Trust conference, Ms Phillipson said: “The absence epidemic is the canary in the coal mine for belonging in our country and the way we tackle this, the way we rip out the roots of this generational challenge, is to rebuild belonging through partnership and responsibility.
“Parents have a responsibility to send their children to school, but schools and trusts must create welcoming, engaging and inclusive spaces for pupils.
“Our best schools and trusts do this, but we know that there is huge variation in attendance levels.
“Sometimes that reflects different intakes and resources, but sometimes it’s difference in performance, whether leadership, practices or approach, and that we won’t accept.”
Starmer rolling out the red carpet for Donald Trump would be ‘obscene’
18:30 , Alex RossSir Keir Starmer has been warned against rolling out the red carpet for Donald Trump in the UK, as the prime minister attempts to build bridges with the president-elect.
Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), told The Independent such a move would be “obscene”, saying Trump’s election is “disastrous for trade unions and the labour movement globally”.
“Trump is a far-right nationalist demagogue who has launched a racist and misogynistic ‘hate-fest’ in the US,” he added.
Read the full story by Millie Cooke and David Maddox here:
Starmer rolling out red carpet for Trump would be ‘obscene’, PM is warned
