David Lammy refuses to back down on branding Donald Trump a 'neo-Nazi sympathiser' in the past - but insists they can now find 'common ground'

David Lammy has refused to back down on branding US President-elect Donald Trump a 'neo-Nazi sympathiser' in the past, as he insists it's 'old news'.

The Foreign Secretary has come under intense scrutiny for comments he made in 2018 when he described Trump as a 'woman-hating, neo-Nazi sympathising sociopath'.

Among the other barbs directed at Trump by Mr Lammy on social media include the quip: 'If Trump did GCSEs he wouldn't make it to sixth form.'

Calls have been made for Mr Lammy to be sacked ahead of Trump returning to the White House , with top US analyst Nile Gardiner telling Sir Keir Starmer 'it's the smartest thing to do'.

But Downing Street has pushed back and took the unusual step to say Mr Lammy would be remaining in his post until the end of the Parliament.

Mr Lammy, who also once called the president-elect a 'tyrant in a toupee', last night told BBC 's Newscast podcast that he believes he can find 'common ground' with Trump.

And he tried to justify making the embarrassing jibes saying you would 'struggle to find any politician' who had not said some 'pretty ripe things' about Trump in the past.

'I think that what you say as a backbencher and what you do wearing the real duty of public office are two different things,' Mr Lammy said.

'And I am foreign secretary. There are things I know now that I didn't know back then.'

The BBC's political editor Chris Mason told Mr Lammy his back catalogue of quotes mattered as Trump could in the future decide to 'weaponise these' and that's to 'our [the UK's] detriment'.

But he brushed it off as he made reference to a dinner he and the Prime Minister had with Trump in New York in September.

Looking uncomfortable as he shifted in his chair and tapped his hands on his thighs, Mr Lammy said: 'He didn't seem to think it mattered a few weeks ago.'

He added: 'And in the end he [Trump] is finding common ground just as I'm finding common ground.'

Mr Lammy added that Trump was 'someone that we can build a relationship with in our national interest' and praised his election campaign as 'very well run'.

'I felt in my bones that there could be a Trump presidency,'he added.

The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary met Trump for dinner in New York in September.

When asked if his past comments had been brought up when he met Trump for dinner, Mr Lammy said 'not even vaguely'.

He added: 'I know this is a talking point today, but in a world where there's war in Europe, where there's a tremendous loss of life in the Middle East, where the US and the UK genuinely have a special relationship, where we got someone who's about to become again, the US president, who has experience of doing the job last time round, we will forge common interests,' he said.

'We will agree and align on much and where we disagree, we'll have those conversations as well, most often in private.'

Sir Keir is facing a major headache with Mr Trump's stunning US election win, after tensions flared over Labour supporters helping to campaign for the Democrat contender.

Mr Trump's team filed an official complaint with federal election authorities accusing Labour of making 'illegal foreign national contributions'.

Around 100 activists travelled to swing states to canvass for the Harris ticket - although Labour insisted they went at their own expense.

US analyst Mr Gardiner predicted there would be Congressional hearings on the use of Labour activists, not least because Republicans have won back control of the Senate with the House still to play for.

'I think Keir Starmer is in the dog house right now and I'm not sure he would be welcome at Mar-a-Lago right now,' Mr Gardiner said.

'Sir Keir is viewed as part and parcel of the Harris operation'.

Firing Mr Lammy for his 'vicious' attacks on Mr Trump would be a start, Mr Gardiner said.

He said: 'The smartest thing would be to sack David Lammy and apologise for the intervention by Labour staffers.

'But I'm in no doubt that it will be practically impossible for Sir Keir to work with the Trump Presidency'.

Earlier this week, during PMQs, Tory leader Kemi Badeonch asked Sir Keir if he had apologised for Mr Lammy's past remarks.

In response, the PM said his meeting with the Foreign Secretary and president-elect Trump just a few weeks ago was a 'very constructive exercise'.

Ms Badenooch insisted that Sir Keir must invite Mr Trump to visit the UK and address both Houses of Parliament.

When Mr Trump was last president Labour MPs including Mr Lammy signed an early day motion arguing he should not be allowed the honour of addressing both Houses of Parliament during a state visit.

Meanwhile, the PM has also repeatedly clashed with billionaire Elon Musk, who looks certain to end up playing a key role in the Trump administration.

Government sources have been playing up the private dinner Sir Keir and Mr Lammy had with Mr Trump in New York in September, insisting they had struck up a good relationship.

There was also anger that senior figures from the party went to the Democratic National Convention in August and met Harris aides. The two parties have long-term ties.

Ms Badenoch said in the Commons: 'I would like to start by congratulating President-elect Trump on his impressive victory this morning.

'The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary met him in September. Did the Foreign Secretary take that opportunity to apologise for making derogatory and scatological references, including, and I quote, 'Trump is not only a woman-hating Neo-Nazi sympathising sociopath, he is also a profound threat to the international order', and if he did not apologise, will the Prime Minister do so now on his behalf?'