Prime Minister wades into long-running feud between US president and London Mayor
Sadiq Khan and Donald Trump have been engaged in a long-running spat (Image: Getty)
Sir Keir Starmer believes Donald Trump‘s criticism of Sir Sadiq Khan is “wrong,” Downing Street has said. The US president and the London Mayor have been embroiled in a long-running feud that has recently erupted again.
No 10’s defence of the Labour politician came a day after it declined to criticise Mr Trump’s latest salvo, in which he branded Sir Sadiq a “disaster” and “disgusting”. On Wednesday, the Prime Minister’s press secretary said: “Those comments are wrong. The Mayor of London is doing an excellent job in London, delivering free school meals in primary schools, cleaning up London’s air with the world’s largest clean air zone, and starting record numbers of council houses.
“The Prime Minister is hugely proud of the Mayor of London’s record and proud to call him a colleague and a friend.”
Mr Trump also told Politico that Sir Sadiq had been elected “because so many people have come in”.
Asked about that claim in particular, Sir Keir’s press secretary added: “As I say, the comments are wrong.”
On Tuesday, a Downing Street spokesman declined to directly rebut Mr Trump’s condemnation of Sir Sadiq, saying Sir Keir had strong relationships with both men.
The spokesman then denied failing to stand up for the London Mayor.
Sir Sadiq responded to Politico by claiming Mr Trump had become “obsessed” with him. The mayor also suggested Americans are “flocking” to live in London because its values are the “antithesis” of the US.
The row between the two politicians dates back about a decade, with the pair repeatedly engaging in a war of words.
