Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden has defended Foreign Secretary David Lammy's past controversial remarks about Donald Trump, saying the president-elect "provokes quite a lot of emotions" in people.
Speaking on GB News, McFadden addressed concerns about previous comments made by Labour ministers before the party entered government in July.
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster emphasised that the UK-US relationship transcends past criticisms, suggesting Trump's ability to work with former critics demonstrates this.
"This is a man who provokes quite a lot of emotions," McFadden said, pointing to the recent US election campaign as evidence.
Pat McFadden said Lammy's remarks were provoked by 'emotion'
GB NEWS / PA
Lammy had previously described Trump as a "woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath" in 2018, as highlighted during Prime Minister's Questions yesterday.
The comments were brought to attention by new Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, who challenged Sir Keir Starmer to apologise on behalf of his Foreign Secretary.
In 2017, Lammy had also labelled Trump a "racist and KKK/neo-Nazi sympathiser" and suggested he would protest if Trump visited the UK.
The remarks have gained renewed scrutiny following Trump's election victory against Vice President Kamala Harris.
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McFadden pointed to Trump's own vice president-elect JD Vance as an example of moving past criticism, noting Vance had previously speculated whether Trump would be "America's Hitler".
"Look, the friendship between the United States and the United Kingdom is really deep and long lasting," McFadden told GB News.
Donald TrumpReutersHe emphasised that examining past statements should consider "both sides of the Atlantic".
The minister highlighted how the alliance between the two nations is based on "real common interests in defence and security".
"It is so deep... it's really serious, it's really longstanding," McFadden added.
McFadden stressed that if Trump took issue with everyone who had criticised him, "there'd be a lot of people he wouldn't be speaking to".
Britain's Foreign Secretary David LammyReuters"I'm optimistic that this friendship can be good for our country in the next few years and can be good for the world as the United States and the United Kingdom stand together," he told GB News.
The minister suggested waiting to see how campaign rhetoric translates into policy.
"The thing I would advise is, look at what President Trump does, and not just what is said in the heat of the campaign," McFadden said.
He added that while new tariffs could affect British exports, "we don't want a trade war for that reason".
