Minister distances Government from Sir Sadiq Khan ‘resurgent fascism’ warning

A Cabinet curate has distanced the Government from Sir Sadiq Khan’s warnings of a “resurgent fascism” up of the inauguration of Donald Trump.

Mayor of London Sir Sadiq warned it is simply a “perilous moment”, penning successful The Observer that “these are profoundly worrying times, particularly if you’re a subordinate of a number community”.

The comments travel up of Mr Trump’s inauguration connected Monday which volition spot him sworn into the White House for a 2nd term.

Asked whether Sir Sadiq was wrong, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones told the BBC: “Yes, and I don’t hold with that.

“President-elect Trump won a tremendous predetermination triumph successful the United States arsenic a democracy.  We enactment ideology and the American radical elected Donald Trump and the Republican Party.”

Pushed further connected the issue, Mr Jones suggested Sir Sadiq “is allowed” to marque that case, “but I don’t hold with it”.

“I talk connected behalf of the Government and we don’t hold with it,” helium added.

“President-elect Trump has an important mandate successful the United States and we look guardant to moving with him successful the interests of some of our economies.”

Writing for The Observer connected Sunday, Sir Sadiq pointed to the AfD successful Germany, National Rally successful France and Mr Trump successful the US, calling for a “renewed and concerted effort to face these forces and exposure them for what they are: opportunists who question to disagreement radical for idiosyncratic and governmental gain”.

He besides wrote successful the piece: “We should beryllium successful nary doubt, this is simply a perilous moment. The spectre of a resurgent fascism haunts the west. ”

Shadow overseas caput Priti Patel is successful Washington DC for the inauguration and deed backmost astatine Sir Sadiq’s “disparaging remarks”.

Speaking to Sky News connected Sunday morning, she said: “It’s truly not for politicians successful different countries to commencement making disrespectful and disparaging comments astir President-elect Trump.”

She added: “I’d impulse Keir Starmer’s Government to measurement up to the sheet close now.

“Start good, strong, coagulated negotiations into interactions with the Trump government, alternatively than making disparaging remarks, arsenic we’ve conscionable heard from Sadiq Khan and erstwhile remarks that person been made by Labour ministers.”