19 January 2025

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Donald Trump will not impose hefty tariffs on the UK, a senior Treasury minister has predicted, as Labor insists it can deal with the incoming US administration.

Asked whether the UK had a plan to deal with potential trade tariffs from the incoming Trump government, Darren Jones, chief treasurer to the treasurer, said: “I don't think we would be in that scenario.”

“We should not view the inauguration of President-elect Trump as a risk, or a bad thing for the UK. It could be a very positive thing with a lot of opportunities,” he told Sky News on Sunday.

Sir Keir Starmer's centre-left administration in London is seeking an effective working relationship with the new government in Washington.

However, members of his Cabinet have in the past described Trump as “controversial and ignorant,” “a complete moron,” “a profound threat,” “the worst president in history,” and “a racist, misogynist, and groping man.” .

Starmer party angry Trump's inner circle when about 100 Labor Party officials went to the United States to campaign for Democrats earlier this year.

Since then, the Prime Minister has done his best to be pragmatic, telling the Financial Times on Friday that he had a “constructive” relationship with the new president.

But Sadiq Khan, the Labor mayor of London, threatened on Sunday to derail those conciliatory efforts when he warned of the “resurgence of fascism” on the eve of the next US president's inauguration.

Khan wrote on Sunday in observer The newspaper said that the West is living a “dangerous moment” with the rise of the “extreme right” in many countries.

“European countries are under the influence of extreme nationalist parties hostile to democratic institutions, migrant populations and fact-based journalism,” he wrote.

In Germany, the Alternative for Germany party is on the path to achieving a breakthrough in the federal elections scheduled for next month. In France, the National Rally party leads in presidential opinion polls. Naturally, Donald Trump returned to the United States.

The last time Trump visited the White House, there was public animosity between him and Khan, whom he described as a “cold loser” for criticizing his presidency.

Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, said: “It is not right for politicians in other countries to start making insulting and disrespectful comments about President-elect Trump,” speaking to Sky News.

Patel is expected to attend Trump's inauguration, alongside fellow Conservatives including former prime ministers Boris Johnson and Liz Truss.

Ahead of Trump's inauguration on Monday, conservatives are vying for his support alongside Reform UK, which has put forward more right-wing policies on issues such as net zero and immigration, and whose leader Nigel Farage is close to the new president.

By contrast, only one Labor politician was invited to the event, Lord Maurice Glassman, an academic who said at the weekend that there was “genuine, real working-class enthusiasm” for Trump.

Jones said he doubted Trump would block the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson, the former business secretary, as UK ambassador to the United States against the backdrop of speculation that he might challenge the appointment.

“I mean . . . I think someone said something at Mar-a-Lago and it will probably be promoted by some politicians who want to cause a little inconvenience.

One Labor official said that “there has been no indication or indication from Trump himself that this is likely at all.”

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