Donald Trump brands General Election result ‘surprising’ as US firebrand Bernie Sanders says he’s ‘delighted’ to see Labour gain seats
DONALD Trump said the UK General Election result was "surprising" - as he spoke out for the first time since Theresa May failed to secure a majority government.
His comment came after US firebrand Bernie Sanders congratulated Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour party after they clawed back ground from the Conservatives in the General Election.
A spokesman from The White House said: "President Donald Trump spoke today with Prime Minster Theresa May of the United Kingdom to odder his warm support regarding the election.
"President Trump emphasised his commitment to the United Stated-United Kingdom special relationship and underscored that he looks forward to working with the Prime Minister on shared goals and interested in the years to come."
Downing Street said Trump called to offer his "congratulations".
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While radical Vermont senator Sanders told Washington Post reporter Dave Weigel he had been watching the UK election results roll in.
"I am delighted to see Labour do so well. All over the world people are rising up against austerity and massive levels of income and wealth inequality.
"People in the UK, the US and elsewhere want governments that represent all the people, not just the 1 per cent. I congratulate Jeremy Corbyn for running a very positive and effective campaign."
France's Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has said he doesn't believe the surprise British election result means the country has changed its mind over its decision to leave the EU.
Speaking this morning on Europe 1 radio, conceded that "the tone" of Brexit negotiations may be affected by Theresa May's failure to secure a parliamentary majority.
However, he said he was sceptical to conclude that "Britons' sovereign decision on Brexit has been cast into doubt in any way."
Discussions, he added, will be "long" and "complex - so let's not kid ourselves."
Former Finnish premier Alexander Stubb this morning tweeted: "Looks like we might need a time-out in the Brexit negotiations. Time for everyone to regroup."
And the EU's budget commissioner Guenther Oettinger said he was unsure if Britain's negotiations about leaving the bloc could begin on time following the hung parliament.
Former Swedish prime minister Carl Bildt tweeted: "Could be messy for the United Kingdom in the years ahead. One mess risks following another. Price to be paid for lack of true leadership."
Greece’s leftist-led government enthusiastically applauded Theresa May’s "very big defeat" as a victory over the politics of austerity.
Calling it a personal vindication for Jeremy Corbyn and his party’s leftwing turn, the Greek government spokesman said the election result highlighted the huge and growing global challenge to austerity.
"This trend of doubting the politics of harsh austerity is now being consolidated world wide," said Dimitris Tzanakopoulos who represents the ruling Syriza party which has long had close ties with Corbyn.
Some of the key details from the turbulent night so far:
- Hung parliament confirmed with Tories missing out on majority of 326 with polls predicting 318 seats - down from 330
- Labour forecast to take 262 - up from 232 in 2015. They are
- Theresa May faces mounting pressure – with the odds slashed on Boris Johnson to be the next PM
- Fears grow Brexit negotiations could be sunk if Mrs May does not secure a majority
- Lib Dem Nick Clegg loses Sheffield Hallam seat but Vince Cable regains Twickenham while leader Tim Farron clings on
- Home Secretary Amber Rudd holds on to Hastings seat by barely 300 votes
- Huge losses for SNP as former chief Alex Salmond and deputy leader Angus Robertson are both beaten by the Tories.
- Labour on march in London beating Tories to Battersea constituency but Tory Zac Goldsmith takes back Richmond with a majority of just 45
- Pound slides two per cent as exit poll predicts hung parliament
- Ukip voters desert party with vote share down by ten per cent
- Growing fears that Mrs May will have to call a second election later this year
- Sources claim Theresa May is not planning to resign - and instead "has every intention of forming a government with the DUP"
- Jeremy Corbyn claims he won the election after making significant gains across the country
- Theresa May will visit Buckingham Palace at 12.30pm to seek permission from the Queen to form a government
German papers reacted with jubilation at the news May's election gamble had backfired.
The country's best-selling newspaper Bild called it a "vote slap for Theresa May".
It added: "An election debacle before the start of Brexit negotiations. Theresa May is facing an exit from her own party.
"With the election she wanted to expand the parliamentary majority of her Conservative Party and win more tailwind for the Brexit negotiations with the EU.
"But now she will probably lose her office. After the fantastic poll values of four weeks ago, this is a bitter slap for May!"
Spiegel magazine, using German wordplay to compare her to the Iron lady Margaret Thatcher, called her instead 'Die eiernde Lady' - the wobbly lady.
"Britain's Prime minister Theresa May has been playing poker - and has lost almost everything. After a memorable night, the country is politically paralyzed. And it's completely unclear where it goes from here."
Die Welt declared: "Theresa May pays for her risky game." It condemned her campaign as a "disaster" and also questioned how long she could remain in office.
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