Dame Priti Patel has criticized the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, for claiming the West faces a threat from “resurgent fascism” ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration. She also dismissed Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party as insignificant.
Sadiq Khan, in an article for *The Observer*, warned of the rise of far-right movements in the West and urged progressives to resist their influence. He highlighted the growth of far-right parties like the AfD in Germany and National Rally in France, as well as Trump’s policies in the US. Khan stated, “These are troubling times, especially for minority communities,” and called for strong efforts to defend democracy.
In response, Priti Patel told Sky News she disagrees with Khan, emphasizing the importance of respecting the American people’s choice in electing Donald Trump. She urged the UK government to focus on building strong ties with the US instead of making critical remarks.
Patel also downplayed the significance of Nigel Farage’s relationship with Trump, stating that the Conservative Party has longstanding ties with the Republican Party. She described Reform UK as a “pop-up act” and stressed the importance of collaboration between established conservative parties.
Khan also took aim at financial backers like Elon Musk, accusing them of prioritizing profits over democracy. He called for unity to confront far-right ideologies, saying, “The stakes for liberal democracy couldn’t be higher.”
