May: UK to keep strong ties with US under Trump

British Prime Minister Theresa May has congratulated US president-elect Donald Trump for his victory, saying London wishes to retain its close ties with Washington when his administration comes to power.

“I would like to congratulate Donald Trump on being elected the next president of the United States, following a hard-fought campaign,” May said Wednesday, hours after Trump pulled a historic win over Hillary Clinton, his Democratic contender in the race for the White House.

“We are, and will remain, strong and close partners on trade, security and defense,” the premier added. “I look forward to working with President-elect Donald Trump, building on these ties to ensure the security and prosperity of our nations in the years ahead.”

During Trump’s battle against Clinton, May appeared as an opponent of the New York businessman.

Criticizing Trump’s remarks about London’s security, May had once said that “he does not understand the UK and what happens in the UK.”

Brexit was another breaking point between Trump and May.

Trump was a fierce supporter of Britain's withdrawal from the European Union (EU), while May, the former home secretary, opposed the idea before the June 23 referendum, where the majority of Britons voted in favor of Brexit.

UK’s Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson also congratulated Trump in a tweet and said he was “much looking forward to working with his administration on global stability and prosperity.”

He had also attacked the former reality TV star, once saying, “the only reason I wouldn't go to some parts of New York is the real risk of meeting Donald Trump.”

Corbyn looking to talk to Trump

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn took a different line than May, saying that although Trump won through a "nasty and divisive" campaign, the victory conveyed important messages nonetheless.

Trump’s win was “a rejection of a failed economic consensus and a governing elite that has been seen not to have listened,” the opposition leader said.

“And the public anger that has propelled Donald Trump to office has been reflected in political upheavals across the world,” Corbyn noted, adding that he was looking forward to "robust discussions" with 45th US president about climate change and the UN.

‘Brave’ campaign

The leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) Nigel Farage, one of the main pro-Brexit campaigners who had appeared next to Trump at his campaign events, congratulated America’s newly elected president for running a “brave” campaign.

“We now have a President who likes our country and understands our post-Brexit values,” he said. “Voters across the Western world want nation state democracy, proper border controls and to be in charge of their own lives.”

The business mogul garnered 289 electoral votes on Tuesday, half a dozen votes more than what he needed to win the presidency. Clinton finished with a mediocre 218 votes, after losing most of the battleground states.

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