Keir Starmer embroiled in row over Sadiq Khan’s ‘fascism’ jibe at Donald Trump on eve of inauguration
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Reform UK leader Nigel Farage accused the Labour prime minister of ‘getting off to the worst possible start’ with the incoming Trump administration. Keir Starmer is embroiled in another row over Donald Trump after the Labour mayor of London warned of a “resurgent fascism” on the eve of his inauguration.
Allies of the prime minister slapped down Sadiq Khan, distancing the government from his comments, while the Tories condemned them as “unacceptable”. The latest spat comes at a difficult time for the UK-US relationship. In what would be an extremely rare move Mr Trump is considering rejecting Sir Keir’s nominee for UK ambassador to the US, Lord Mandelson.
The Trump team is also still angry Labour staffers travelled to the US to campaign for their rivals in the presidential race, the Democrats. Sir Sadiq warned of a "resurgent fascism" and “deeply worrying times, especially if you're a member of a minority community", in The Observer.
“By exploiting economic concerns and a growing distrust of political and media institutions, these reactionary populists have been able to attract new supporters,” he wrote. “In Germany, the AfD is on course for a breakthrough in next month’s federal elections. In France, the National Rally is topping presidential polls. And, of course, in the US, Donald Trump is back.