Sadiq Khan issues warning ahead of Donald Trump inauguration - 'worrying times'

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, who Donald Trump singled retired for disapproval during his archetypal word successful office, besides described Elon Musk, the X owner, arsenic a 'billionaire bully'

A Cabinet curate has distanced the authorities from Sadiq Khan's remarks astir fascism connected the eve of Donald Trump's inauguration arsenic US President.

The Mayor of London, who Mr Trump singled retired for disapproval during his archetypal word successful office, utilized an nonfiction to pass the "spectre of resurgent fascism haunts the west".

He pointed to the march of right-wing governmental parties successful Europe and Mr Trump's re-entering the White House, saying: "These are profoundly worrying times, particularly if you're a subordinate of a number community."

Sir Sadiq added: "As historians and commentators progressively find echoes of the 1920s and 30s successful the contiguous day, we cannot spend to propulsion successful the towel. We indispensable marque 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.

"Not to notation their fiscal backers who selfishly take to enactment the profits of their companies implicit the interests of our democracies."

He besides described Elon Musk, the X owner, arsenic a "billionaire bully" utilizing his tech level arsenic a "propaganda instrumentality to amplify lies and beforehand the origin of the far-right".

But connected Sunday, Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, who stressed helium was speaking connected behalf of the Labour government, said the Labour Mayor was "wrong".

He said: "President-elect Trump won an tremendous predetermination triumph successful the United States, arsenic a ideology we enactment democracy, and the American radical elected Donald Trump. We respect that mandate."

Speaking connected the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Mr Jones added: "I don't hold with it. I talk connected behalf of the authorities and we don't hold with it. President-elect Trump has an important mandate successful the US and we look guardant to moving with him successful the involvement of some of our economies."

Mr Jones besides insisted helium was assured the president-elect won't artifact Keir Starmer's prime for US ambassador, Peter Mandeslon. The Mirror reported last twelvemonth those advising the president-elect urged him to garbage Lord Mandelson's credentials, due to the fact that of his erstwhile relation arsenic an EU Commissioner.

But Mr Jones said the New Labour-era Cabinet curate would "form a precise beardown concern with the caller administration".

Pressed connected whether helium was "confident" that Mr Trump's incoming medication volition judge the nomination, Mr Jones said: "Yeah. For the archetypal clip in, I think, possibly 50 years, this is the archetypal clip that a British Prime Minister has picked a person to beryllium the ambassador successful DC."

The authorities volition beryllium represented astatine the ceremonial by Dame Karen Pierce - the outgoing UK ambassador to the US - who was successful station during the archetypal Trump presidency.

Other UK politicians, including ex-PM Liz Truss, erstwhile Home Secretary Suella Braverman, and Reform UK person volition besides beryllium attending the ceremonial successful Washington DC. Ms Truss, who was turfed retired of No10 aft conscionable 49 days successful office, and Ms Braverman were some spotted wearing MAGA - Make America Great Again - caps.