Angela Rayner has spoken to US Vice President-elect JD Vance about 'plans for the future'

Angela Rayner has spoken to newly-elected US Vice President JD Vance following his electoral victory as Donald Trump's running mate.

The Ashton-under-Lyne MP posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that it was "good to speak" to the Ohio senator, who will be her US counterpart. She said: "Good to speak to US Vice President-elect @JDVance as UK Deputy Prime Minister.

"We spoke about our plans for the future and how, working together, we build on the special relationship between our great countries."

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It comes shortly after Sir Keir Starmer's conversation with Mr. Trump, where the Prime Minister extended "hearty congratulations." The Prime Minister said he looked forward to working closely with President-elect Trump across all areas of the special relationship.

Sir Keir had previously met with Mr. Trump for dinner during a trip to New York in September, along with Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

Ahead of the inauguration on January 20, 2025, there have been concerns that certain comments made by British politicians may strain ties with the incoming US administration.

Prominent figures, including Mr. Lammy who has labelled Mr. Trump a "neo-Nazi" sympathiser, have made controversial statements.

Meanwhile, Ms Rayner labelled Mr Trump an "absolute buffoon" for his management of the Covid pandemic, telling ITV: "He’s an absolute buffoon. He has no place in the White House. He’s an embarrassment and he should be ashamed of himself, especially when thousands of Americans have died."

Following his election defeat in 2020, she expressed her relief, stating she was "so happy to see the back of Donald Trump". In addition, Ms Rayner has dismissed Mr Vance's assertion that the UK is a "truly Islamist" country armed with nuclear weapons.

Speaking to ITV in July, she mentioned that although Mr Vance has said "quite a lot of fruity things in the past", she does not "recognise" his portrayal of the UK.