Keir Starmer calls Trump's Sharia claim nonsense; vows frank talks with Trump, backs Sadiq Khan

Prime Minister Keir Starmer dismissed Donald Trump's claim that London Mayor Sadiq Khan wants to impose Sharia law as 'nonsense' and said Khan is 'a very good man' who is driving down crime in the capital. Starmer added that, while there are issues on which the two leaders disagree, 'there's a lot I agree with President Trump. We get along.' He vowed to have a 'frank conversation' with the U.S. president and stressed that last week's state visit underscored the depth of the UK-U.S. relationship.

Trump made the Sharia claim during a rambling speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, describing London as having 'a terrible, terrible mayor' and adding: 'It's been changed, it's been so changed. Now they want to go to Sharia law. But you are in a different country, you can't do that.'

Speaking to ITV London on Thursday, Starmer defended Khan and noted that, while there are areas where he and Trump agree, 'this is one of them' where they disagree. 'There's a few things we disagree about. This is one of them. The idea of the introduction of Sharia law is nonsense. And Sadiq Khan is a very good man and actually driving down serious crime. So as I say, there's a lot I agree with President Trump. We get along. We had a good state visit last week, but on this I disagree with him on the Sharia law comments were ridiculous.'

The Prime Minister also said he would not be drawn into a war of words with Trump and expressed pride in London's mayor and the capital’s diversity. 'I'm absolutely clear, on the issues where I agree with the President, we have to work together,' Starmer said. 'Of course, a very, very important relationship between our two countries. But equally, I'm very proud of our capital city and very proud of our mayor here, who's doing a very good job.' He added that while the long-running feud between Trump and Khan could be awkward in some quarters, it would not derail the working relationship with Washington. 'Oh, look, I mean, we are dealing with, global affairs on an ongoing basis with America, our closest ally,' he said. 'On defence, on security, on intelligence. That's where most of my focus is. My team are working with his team the whole time. Very few things we disagree on. But I'm very clear, this is this is one of them.'