The Prime Minister’s representative said Trump’s comments about the Mayor of London were ‘wrong’ after Sir Keir Starmer was urged to tell the American leader not to meddle in UK matters
Sir Keir Starmer has voiced his disagreement with Donald Trump’s criticism of Sir Sadiq Khan, according to Downing Street. This comes after the Prime Minister was urged to confront the US president. Downing Street defended the Labour London Mayor a day after it refrained from condemning the president’s latest attack the Mayor of London.
Mr Trump’s most recent criticism of Sir Sadiq, part of an ongoing feud, saw him label the mayor as a “disaster” and “disgusting” in an interview. In response, The Prime Minister’s representative informed reporters on Wednesday: “Those comments are wrong.
“The Mayor of London is doing an excellent job in London, delivering free school meals in primary schools, cleaning up London’s air with the world’s largest clean air zone and starting record numbers of council houses. The Prime Minister is hugely proud of the Mayor of London’s record and proud to call him a colleague and a friend.”
Mr Trump also suggested to Politico that Sir Sadiq had been elected “because so many people have come in”. When questioned about this particular claim, Sir Keir’s press secretary reiterated: “As I say, the comments are wrong.”
During Prime Minister’s Questions, Sir Keir was encouraged to advise the American leader not to interfere in European politics. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey stated that the Prime Minister should inform Mr Trump that “any attempts to interfere with our democracy are totally unacceptable”, referring to America’s new security strategy.
The 33-page document raises doubts about the long-term reliability of some European nations as “reliable allies” and describes Washington’s policy on Europe as one of “cultivating resistance” to their “current trajectory”. In response, Sir Keir stated: “What I see is a strong Europe, united behind Ukraine and united behind our long-standing values of freedom and democracy, and I will always stand up for those values and those freedoms.”
On Tuesday, a spokesperson from Downing Street chose not to directly counter Mr Trump’s criticism of Sir Sadiq, instead stating that Sir Keir maintains strong relationships with both individuals. The spokesperson then refuted any accusations of failing to support the London Mayor.
Sir Sadiq responded to Politico by suggesting that Mr Trump had become “obsessed” with him, and proposed that Americans are “flocking” to live in London because its values are the “antithesis” of the US.
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