British Prime Minister Theresa May congratulated Donald Trump on his victory today in the US presidential election, saying Britain and America had an "enduring and special relationship".
"I would like to congratulate Donald Trump on being elected the next US president following a hard-fought campaign. Britain and the United States have an enduring and special relationship based on values of freedom, democracy and enterprise," May said in a statement issued by Downing Street.
"We are, and will remain, strong and close partners on trade, security and defence. 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," she said.
She has in the past, as UK home secretary, criticised Republican Trump's call for a ban on Muslims entering the US as "divisive, unhelpful and wrong".
"I just think it shows he does not understand the UK and what happens in the UK," she had said in reference to his claims that police in London feared entering some parts of the city due to ghettoisation.
Opposition Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn described the US election result as an "unmistakable rejection of a political establishment".
"This is a rejection of a failed economic consensus and a governing elite that has been seen as not to have listened. And the public anger that has propelled Donald Trump to office has been reflected in political upheavals across the world," he said in his statement.
He, however, stressed that he did not agree with all of Trump's views.
"But some of Trump's answers to the big questions facing America, and the divisive rhetoric around them, are clearly wrong. I have no doubt, however, that the decency and common sense of the American people will prevail, and we send our solidarity to a nation of migrants, innovators and democrats," he added.
Other leading figures from the UK also reacted to the news that the American billionaire will take over as the 45th President of the US.
"I believe passionately in the importance of the UK-US relationship and am confident we can take it forward together," said Boris Johnson, UK foreign secretary.
Some others were more candid in their shock withCaroline Lucas, the UK's Green Party co-leader, describing the win as a "dark day".
She said, "On this dark day we extend the hand of friendship to people in the USA who wake up in fear - we know that you are not defined by the hatred espoused by your new president".
"But it's at times like this when we need to unite, learn, resist and hope more than ever before. Today, in whatever ways we can, let's light a candle rather than curse the darkness".
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