Yahoo Finance UK leaders congratulate Joe Biden for winning US presidential election
UK politicians have congratulated Joe Biden after he was declared the winner of the presidential election by US media.
News and polling organisations including the Associated Press (AP), NBC and Edison Research, upon which Reuters relies, and Fox News called the presidency for the Democratic nominee.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson was among the MPs who congratulated Biden and his vice-president-elect Kamala Harris on their victory against Republican Donald Trump.
“Congratulations to Joe Biden on his election as President of the United States and to Kamala Harris on her historic achievement (first female vice-president-elect),” the PM said in a statement.
“The US is our most important ally and I look forward to working closely together on our shared priorities, from climate change to trade and security.”
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab also sent his congratulations, adding that while some processes were still playing out, it was clear that Biden had won.
Watch: Biden vows to be “president for all Americans”
Congratulations @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris pic.twitter.com/xrpE99W4c4
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) November 7, 2020
Congratulations to @JoeBiden on his election as President of the United States of America.
He ran a campaign on the values that we in the United Kingdom share - decency, integrity, compassion and strength.— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) November 7, 2020
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer also praised Biden and Harris for their win.
He added: “Their victory is one for hope and unity over dishonesty and division.
“Millions of Americans of all backgrounds and ages have come together to vote for a better, more optimistic future.
“This is also an important moment for the world. It is a chance to reassert America’s place as a force for good on the world stage.
“A nation that will work with Britain and other allies to defeat this pandemic and fight climate change.
“Joe Biden and the Democrats have always shared Labour’s values and the links between our two parties remain strong.
“I am looking forward to building on this and forging an even stronger relationship between the UK and the USA.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan tweeted his praise, saying: “Congratulations @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris on your well-deserved win.
“London looks forward to working with you — it’s time to get back to building bridges, not walls.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also sent a congratulatory message on Twitter.
She wrote: “Congratulations from Scotland to President-Elect Joe Biden and to history-making Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris.”
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said the result gave “great hope to progressives here in Scotland and around the world”.
Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford added he looked forward to working with the USA to build strong links.
Lib Dem leader Ed Davey tweeted: “Congratulations @JoeBiden & @KamalaHarris. A great victory for social justice, climate action and democracy.”
Green Party co-leader Jonathan Bartley said: “We welcome Joe Biden’s commitment to immediately sign the Paris Climate Agreement.
“The world is counting on him to urgently pivot the USA to a trajectory of net-zero carbon emissions and ecological sustainability.”
Meanwhile, Trump has indicated that he will fight the results if he does not win, and his party has filed several lawsuits about vote counts.
Watch: Crowds party in New York's Times Square as Biden secures presidency
