Labour’s David Lammy rejects call to label Donald Trump racist

Mr Lammy highlighted past instances where Labour prime ministers had worked with Republican US presidents, citing Harold Wilson and Richard Nixon, Tony Blair and George Bush.

“Whoever is in the White House, or Number 10, in a big election year we must work together,” he said during a speech at the Institute for Government.

“The special relationship between the United Kingdom and our American friends is core not just to our own national security, but the security of much of the world,” Mr Lammy said – citing the need for international cooperation in wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

During a goodwill mission to the US last week, Mr Lammy reportedly met Mr Trump’s campaign manager Chris LaCivita – in what is believed to be the first official contact between Labour and the former president in the run-up to the 2024 US election.

As Labour’s spokesman on foreign affairs, Mr Lammy is seeking to forge closer ties with both major US parties, to prepare for power if his party -which is well ahead in the opinion polls – wins the UK general election later this year.

In a speech last week at a Republican think tank in Washington, Mr Lammy said Mr Trump was “often misunderstood” over his commitment to European security.

On Friday, Mr Lammy returned to this argument – saying Mr Trump has “the right concern” about defence spending.

He pointed out under Mr Trump US and European Nato contributions increase and the first American Javelin missiles to Ukraine were delivered.

But Labour’s London Mayor Mr Khan said in an interview this week that Mr Trump was “not misunderstood”, adding: “He’s a racist. He’s a sexist. He’s a homophobe.

“And it’s very important, particularly when you’ve got a special relationship, that you treat them as a best mate.

“If my best mate was a racist, or a sexist or a homophobe, I’d call him out and I’d explain to him why those views are wrong.”