The Labour government has expressed confidence in its ability to work constructively with the incoming Trump administration, despite past criticism of the president-elect from senior party figures. Chancellor Rachel Reeves stated she has “absolutely no doubt” the UK and US will be able to collaborate effectively, even as Foreign Secretary David Lammy previously described Trump as a “neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath”.
Reeves pointed to the positive meeting between Prime Minister Starmer, Foreign Secretary Lammy and President-elect Trump in New York just weeks ago, stating “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.”
The Chancellor acknowledged that Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, had used “choice words” about the president-elect in the past. However, Reeves argued “the point is those comments were in the past” and emphasised the longstanding “special relationship” between the UK and US.
The comments come as the Labour government seeks to navigate its relationship with the Trump White House, with some senior Tories warning the party’s past criticism of the president-elect could hamper cooperation. Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden insisted Labour criticism would not damage the UK-US alliance, stating “the shared values and shared history” between the nations are “more important than all of those things.”
McFadden said the government is “looking forward to working with the new president and building on that enduring alliance”, despite the heated rhetoric from some Labour figures in recent years. The minister argued that with aligned governments in both countries for the next four years, there is an opportunity to strengthen the vital transatlantic partnership.
