Labour Shadow Minister Sir Chris Bryant has U-turned on his call for the arrest of Donald Trump.
The MP accused Trump of “meddling in British politics in a very dangerous way” in 2017 as the then US President was preparing to visit Britain.
He also called on Theresa May, who was Prime Minister at the time, to “make it clear” that Trump “will be arrested for inciting religious hatred” upon visiting the country.
Speaking to Camilla Tominey on GB News, Bryant addressed the prospect of working with Trump should Labour secure victory at the general election, which is widely expected to take place this year.
Sir Chris Bryant says he would not call for Trump's arrest should he visit again
GETTY / GB NEWS
The 77-year-old former President is on course for the Republican presidential nomination having secured victory in the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary.
Should he win back access to the White House, Trump could be dealing with a Labour government across the pond fronted by Sir Keir Starmer.
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Bryant admitted that he continues to not be “a big fan” of Trump, but will work with the US President if required.
“I don’t think that somebody who denies the result of a general election is a good democrat”, he said.
“But Starmer might have to work with this bloke”, Tominey interjected.
Bryant responded: “When I worked in the Foreign Office as a Foreign Office minister for about 10 minutes under Gordon Brown, sometimes you had to deal with people who weren’t your immediate or obvious allies.
Chris Bryant demanded Trump's arrest in 2017
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Sir Chris Bryant joined Camilla Tominey on GB News
GB NEWS
“That’s just part of what you have to do as a country as part of a grown up government.
“Donald Trump getting elected is up to the American people.”
Pressed by Tominey as to whether he would demand Trump’s arrest should he arrive on UK shores whilst a Labour government is in charge, Bryant conceded: “I wouldn’t, no.”
Bryant spoke out on Trump in 2017 after he shared three posts from Britain First deputy leader Jayda Fransen.
He wasn’t alone in calling for Trump’s arrest, with fellow Labour MP Paul Flynn tweeting: “Trump should be arrested for inciting racial hatred if May allows him to set foot on UK soil.”
In his previous position of president, Trump was immune from prosecution so charging him would not have been possible.
The Home Secretary at the time Amber Rudd called on MPs to remember that the US has “such an important relationship with this country”.
She added that the relationship is so important that she “wouldn’t want to harm it at all”.
