Boris Johnson has joined the swathe of UK politicians reacting to the astonishing scenes coming out of Washington DC tonight, after pro-Trump protestors stormed the US Capitolbuilding.
It comes after one rioter was shot dead by law enforcement officers and tear gas was fired inside the House, following a stand-off between rioters and security officials within the Capitol after people managed to break-in through a window.
The violence broke out after Donald Trumptold his followers earlier this week he would not concede the “fraudulent election” and urged his supporters to travel to Washington to protest over Congress’ formal approval of Joe Biden‘s victory in the November presidential election.
Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, called the scenes “horrendous” and said “these are not ‘protestors’ – this is a direct attack on democracy and legislators carrying out the will of the American people”.
Meanwhile, Manchester’s mayor Andy Burnham appeared to launch a thinly veiled attack on the prime minister, after tweeting that any UK politician who “gave Trump the time of day” should feel “ashamed”.