Dominic Raab has refused to call out Donald Trump’s claims about “fraud” in the US election, but contradicted the president’s premature claim to victory, saying the result in the fight for the White House was not yet clear.
As results trickled in from the presidential election, the foreign secretary said he was confident the American system would produce a “definitive result” as he sidestepped questions on comments made by Mr Trump.
His comments came as no clear winner emerged in the election in the initial hours, with key swing states yet to declare whether their electoral college votes will be awarded to Mr Trump or the Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
Asked whether the UK government would “call out” the claims made by the US president, Mr Raab told the BBC: “It’s a very close election, we’re watching with great interest, it’s for the American people to decide.
“Ultimately, whatever the election night comments from either sides of the campaigns, I’m confident and have full faith in the US institutions and checks and balances in the US system that will produce a definitive result.”
Pressed on Mr Trump’s baseless accusations that there had been “fraud on the American nation” and would go to the Supreme Court to get vote counting stopped, Mr Raab added: “You’re asking me to comment on the campaign commentary from both sides and indeed the pundits, which forgive me, I’ll refrain from doing.
“It’s a very close election, it’s uncertain, we may not know the definitive results for hours if not days.”
Quizzed a third time on whether he would call out the US president’s comments, he went on: “The truth is what is really important now is we wait and see how this uncertainty unfolds.”
Lisa Nandy, the shadow foreign secretary, said Mr Raab’s response was “shameful”, telling Politics Home the cabinet minister should “stand up robustly and defend the right of American citizens to free and fair elections”.
She added: “In the last few months Dominic Raab has spoken out very clearly about attempts to undermine democracy by China and Hong Kong, attempts by Russia to undermine democracy in Belarus.
“To not stand up for the rights of people in the world’s most powerful democracy to have their votes counted and to have their voices heard was a sign of how far this government has diminished Britain on the world stage.”
And Mr Raab’s predecessor at the Foreign Office, Jeremy Hunt, also addressed a message to the US, saying: “The reputation of democracy is at stake and the world is watching. Please proceed carefully.”
However, despite Mr Trump’s claim – “frankly, we did win this election” – Mr Raab also told Sky News: “It’s a close election – I don’t think there’s a clear result yet. We’ll see how this plays out. I think it’s going to be a very close race. We may not get a definitive result for hours if not days.
“We’re confident the American system has the checks and balances to give a definitive result.”
The foreign secretary also insisted the UK-US relationship would endure whoever wins the presidential election, adding: “Depending on who is in the White House there’s always slightly different contours, opportunities and risks for the relationship but come what may I’m very confident the bedrock of our economic ties, our security cooperation, our shared values will mean the friendship, the strength of economic ties, cultural ties and shared interests – I’m very confident the relationship will go from strength to strength.”
He said he was “very confident that regardless of whether it’s a Republican or a Democrat win the British-US relationship is in great shape”.
