On Tuesday, Angela Rayner, Deputy Prime Minister of the UK, downplayed the significance of JD Vance's statement, the Republican candidate for U.S. vice president, claiming that Britain is a "nuclear-armed Islamic state." She noted that he has previously made "shocking" remarks. Rayner stated that Britain will work with whoever wins in the upcoming U.S. presidential election.
Vance, who was selected by Republican candidate Donald Trump for the vice presidency, made his comments on Monday during a conference earlier this month following the Labour Party's victory in the July 4 elections. He claimed that Britain is "actually the first Islamic state" to possess nuclear weapons, which elicited laughter from the audience. He added that he and a friend were discussing which country would be the first "Islamic state to actually have nuclear weapons," concluding that it might indeed be Britain since the Labour Party came to power under Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Rayner confirmed to ITV that Vance has previously made "many shocking statements." She added, "We are concerned with governing Britain and also working with our international allies." Several prominent figures in the Labour Party have criticized Trump since he was first elected president in 2016. London Mayor Sadiq Khan also condemned his proposals to restrict Muslim travel to the United States.
However, notable figures are seeking to bridge gaps ahead of the U.S. elections in November, as polls suggest Trump is poised to win. New British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who participated in a protest against Trump's visit to London in 2018, met with Vance in March, who had previously been a critic of Trump.
Rayner downplayed her past criticisms of Trump, stating that the Labour Party would act differently as a government compared to when they were in opposition, and would work constructively with the winner of the U.S. presidential election. She remarked, "The United States is a key ally for us, and if the American people decide who their president and vice president are, we will, of course, work with them."
