British reactions to Donald Trump’s victory rolled in, the assisted dying bill passed its second reading, the government attended COP-29, farmers protested, a petition calling for an election reached two million signatures, and the transport secretary resigned.
British reactions to President-elect Donald Trump
UK politicians reacted to Donald Trump’s election victory in early November.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer congratulated the President-elect, saying that the UK-US relationship is “incredibly strong”.
Meanwhile, Labour Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said that many Londoners would feel “anxious” over the election result’s effect on democracy.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform leader Nigel Farage celebrated Trump’s victory, with the latter calling Trump a “genuine friend of the United Kingdom”.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey and Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer were not as enthused. Davey called the result “a dark, dark day”, while Denyer branded Trump “a dangerous bigot, bully, and liar”.
Donald Trump ran on an “America First” platform, saying he would implement tariffs on imported goods. Following Brexit, the UK has been keen to engage in beneficial trade deals with the US, something the incoming administration may not replicate.
The assisted dying bill passed 330-275
Following intense debate, MPs passed the second reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill by 330-275.
The Government made this a free vote, meaning party leadership did not tell MPs how to vote. Instead, MPs voted with their conscience.
This meant that there were party divisions. For example, PM Keir Starmer and ex-PM Rishi Sunak supported the bill, while Deputy PM Angela Rayner and ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, opposed the bill.
Most concerns regarded safeguarding, proper funding for palliative care, and moral objections to life-ending treatment.
The UK at COP-29 in Azerbaijan
The government sent almost 500 delegates to the COP29 summit in Azerbaijan in mid-November.
At the summit, PM Starmer committed the UK to an eight per cent reduction in emissions by 2035.
Farmer protests
Following changes to inheritance tax in the 2024 Budget, farmers, joined by Jeremy Clarkson, protested in London.
The changes meant that from April 2026, inherited agricultural assets worth more than £1 million would be taxed at 20 per cent.
These were historically exempt, and the 20 per cent change is only half the usual inheritance tax rate.
The Government insisted they have taken this measure to raise funds for “the public services we all rely on”, and will only affect the wealthiest 500 estates each year.
Election petition reached two million signatures
An online petition calling for a fresh UK general election surpassed two million signatures on November 25.
This represented the third largest Parliamentary petition since 2010, behind a 2016 petition calling for a second Brexit referendum and a 2019 petition calling for the cancellation of Brexit.
PM Starmer admitted he wasn’t “surprised that many of them want a rerun”, but said, “That isn’t how our system works”.
MPs will debate the petition on January 6, and the Government is expected to issue a response this coming week.
Transport Secretary resigned over historic fraud charge
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh resigned following Sky News and Times reports that she pleaded guilty to fraud in 2013.
Haigh had reported her work phone as stolen during a mugging, before using it in her home. This activity alerted the police, who called her in for questioning. She says she pleaded guilty on the advice of a solicitor, although insists that it was a genuine mistake.
Magistrates handed her down a conditional discharge, the “lowest possible outcome”.
During her four months as Transport Secretary, Haigh began the process of renationalising the UK’s rail network under Great British Rail.
Heidi Alexandar has taken up the role of Transport Secretary.
Honorary mentions
Downing Street indicated that Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu would be arrested if he travelled to the UK, following the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) warrant for his arrest.
The ICC issued the warrant on the grounds of war crimes in Gaza, with US President Joe Biden calling it “outrageous”. The PM’s spokesman refused to comment on “hypotheticals”, although agreed the UK Government would fulfil its legal obligations.
New Labour MP Steve Witherden apologised after being reprimanded for drinking a carton of milk in the House of Commons. He said he didn’t know the rules around eating and drinking in the chamber, but insisted that milk is “an excellent source of protein and calcium”.
Concept of ’This Month in Politics’ created by Edward Jewsbury.
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