Donald Trump 'within his right' to make statement on tariffs and Nigel Farage 'not relevant' - Priti Patel says

'No plans' to ban Tik Tok in the UK

Earlier we spoke to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones. 

He has also appeared on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, where he was asked if the UK could follow in America's footsteps with a TikTok ban.

"We always keep all of these technology issues under consideration, whether it's for national security or data privacy concerns," Mr Jones said. 

"We have laws in place and processes to do that. We have no plans right now to ban TikTok from the UK.

"So, we won't be following the same path that the Americans have followed unless or until at some point in the future there is a threat that we are concerned about in the British interest."

At that point, Mr Jones suggested, a review could be carried out.

He added: "On government devices, for example, we've not been allowed to use TikTok for many years, the last Conservative government took the same position because there's sensitive information on those devices.

"But for consumers who want to post videos of their cats or dancing, that doesn't seem like a national security threat to me."

What did Sadiq Khan say about Trump?

 There's been lots of reaction this morning to comments London Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan has made about Donald Trump.

Shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel called the comments "disrespectful" while Treasury minister Darren Jones said he doesn't agree with Mr Khan's language.

So what did Mr Khan say? 

Writing in The Observer, Mr Khan warned of a century-defining battle against  "resurgent fascism", saying the "stakes for liberal democracy couldn’t be higher". 

He said the far-right is on the march, and "reactionary populists have been able to attract new supporters" - citing the AfD in Germany, the National Rally in France and Mr Trump's incoming presidency. 

"These are deeply worrying times, especially if you’re a member of a minority community," Mr Khan said.

"We should be in no doubt, this is a perilous moment. The spectre of a resurgent fascism haunts the West."

In an attempt to pressure the government to go further in calling out Trump over extreme comments, Mr Khan also wrote: "We need to be frank about who we’re dealing with.

"I agree with the government that we need to be pragmatic on the international stage, but progressives around the world should never yield ground to the far-right, nor be afraid to speak truth to power."

It's not the first time Mr Khan has criticised Mr Trump, previously saying he suffered a rise in racist abuse during his first presidency. 

The incoming US leader repeatedly attacked the London mayor on social media during his first time in office, including calling him a "stone-cold loser" who had failed to manage crime rates in the capital. 

Govt 'prepared' for Trump tariffs but confident 'it won't happen'

Mr Jones was also asked if the government has a plan for potential Trump trade tariffs.

He says it does, but doesn't go into detail.

Instead, he says the narrative in the UK is sometimes "too weak" about what we can achieve. 

"We always come to this debate being like, 'oh, this is going to be really hard?' Isn't it a big risk for Britain? Britain is a brilliant country with huge capabilities and assets which are valued, not just to the British people, but to the American economy and other parts of the world," Mr Jones says.

"We should be positive about that and be strong about securing this deal."

Pressed on what the government will do if Mr Trump imposes 20% tariffs, Mr Jones says that is a "hypothetical question".

"Let's see what actually happens. I mean, if that were to happen, I will come back and lay out the details for you. But the point is that I don't think we're going to be in that scenario."

He says Britain and the United States have an important relationship, with "huge amounts of investment back and forth".

Trevor puts it to him that he is both saying "you don't think he's going to do it and therefore you don't need to be too bothered, but you've already said you've got a plan". 

Pressed for that plan again, Mr Jones says: "It's not breaking news that the government prepares for all scenarios". 

However, he adds it is "not for me to lay out the details in advance of something actually happening on TV". 

 "My broader point is that we shouldn't be looking at president-elect Trump's inauguration as a risk, or a bad thing for the UK. It could be an enormously positive thing with lots of opportunities."

Minister distances himself from Sadiq Khan's Trump comments

Next, Mr Jones is asked about Donald Trump's inauguration. 

On Sadiq Khan's comments about the resurgence of fascism (see post 8.52) Mr Jones says he hasn't seen the article and "wouldn't associate" himself with those words. 

Asked if he would dissociate himself from that language, he says: "Yes, I would and if you have questions about that, clearly it is for Sadiq to answer."

Mr Jones also suggested he is confident that Lord Peter Mandelson will be approved as the UK's new ambassador to the US.

It has been reported that Mr Trump is considering rejecting the nominee. 

Mr Jones said: "I doubt very much that's going to happen. I mean, the report that I've seen, I think someone said something at Mar-a-Lago, and it's probably being propagated by some politicians that would like to cause a bit of a nuisance. I doubt that will be the case."

Workers' rights agenda 'not anti-growth', says minister

We have just cut away from our interview with Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the Treasury, to bring you breaking news about the ceasefire in Gaza (see previous post). 

But the interview was pre-recorded, so we can still fill you in on what was discussed. 

On his own brief in the Treasury, Mr Jones is asked about train unions asking for a 10% pay rise.

He says trade unions "will always start high" with negotiations and the government will discuss what is affordable to the public sector. 

On the government's plan for growth, Mr Jones is asked about businesses calling for ministers to dump the workers' rights agenda because it's costing them more money.

Mr Jones says he doesn't agree these measures - such as giving people protections from day one instead of after their probation -a re a barrier to growth. 

"You can take the view that economic growth is built off the back of more people in vulnerable and insecure work because it's cheap labour that you can sack quickly. Or you can take the view that economic growth that works for the whole country is built off the back of, you know, good workers rights and secure incomes."

He says taxpayers "are on the receipt when people are mistreated at work because we have to pay for universal credits or other types of payment if people can't get sustainable incomes for their family finances".

"These are sensible protections for workers. These are not anti-growth measures, and there's much more work that we can be doing where the government and business have a shared agenda," he adds.

Ceasefire deal comes into effect

We have paused the interview with Mr Jones to bring you some breaking news: 

A Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas has come into effect.

The long-sought ceasefire for Gaza, where Israel has been waging a powerful military campaign for the past 15 months, was agreed by Israel's cabinet on Friday night after a breakthrough in negotiations mediated by the US, Qatar and Egypt was announced on Wednesday.

It was initially set to begin at 6.30am today, but it was put on hold by Benjamin Netanyahu after Hamas failed to issue the list of the hostages up for release to Israel.

Israel confirmed it would go ahead at 9.15am after it received a list of hostages in Gaza to be released today.

Ceasefire delay 'evidently disappointing', says minister

Next up on Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips is Darren Jones, the chief secretary to The Treasury, 

Asked about his reaction to the situation in Gaza, he says it is "evidently disappointing" and Hamas needs to produce the list of hostages it says it will release as part of the deal. 

Asked if Hamas could become the permanent de facto force in Gaza, Mr Jones says the UK Government is "going to have to work with the organisations that are in place in order to facilitate the distribution of aid". 

"That's the most important first step, I think, to get the people that need it the most."

He adds that as well as focusing on aid being distributed, governments must "get back around the table with that hope of a sustainable two-state solution". 

He says he feels like the opportunity for the ceasefire "is still there" but "it does obviously feel fragile, especially for people on the ground right now". 

 "This is the closest we have been since 7 October to get to a ceasefire and we've got to make every opportunity available to us to make sure that that happens," he adds. 

Trump 'within his right' to make statement on tariffs and Farage 'not relevant' - Patel

Asked what the UK's relationship with the US should look like, given Mr Trump's warnings about trade tariffs, Ms Patel says the Labour government should build on the previous work of the Conservatives in trying to strike a free trade deal. 

She said Sir Keir Starmer should "not even be entering these discussions around tarrifs". 

"Trump is within his right to make the statement he wants about tariffs," she says.

"I'd urge Sir Keir Starmer's government to step up to the plate rather than making disparaging remarks," she says in relation to Sadiq Khan's comments (see previous post).

Mr Khan is not in government, and his remarks have not been endorsed by ministers. 

Asked whether the Conservatives need to "make peace" with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage to get a hearing with Mr Trump, given Farage's close relationship with the incoming US leader, she says that "isn't a relevant point". 

She says the Republican Party is the Conservative's "sister party" and they have worked together for decades. 

"We are not a pop-up act in the way in which they [Reform UK] are," she adds. 

Khan comments about Trump 'disrespectful and disparaging', says Priti Patel

Ms Patel is now asked about comments by the Labour Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, who said Trump's inauguration heralds the "resurgence of fascism". 

Asked if she agrees she says "no I don't", and that is "not surprising" as there is usually very little she agrees with Mr Khan on.

"It's not for other countries to start making disrespectful and disparaging comments about Mr Trump," she says.

She says the incoming president has a clear mandate and "we should respect that".

She repeats that the mood in Washington is "one of hope and optimism". 

Writing in The Observer, Mr Khan said on Sunday: “We should be in no doubt, this is a perilous moment. The spectre of a resurgent fascism haunts the West … 

"To ward off the far-right, we must be unflinching in defence of our democracy and values, and in our determination to enhance the welfare and material conditions of our communities."

Delayed Gaza ceasefire 'delicate and fragile situation'

 First up on Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips is Dame Priti Patel, the former home secretary and now shadow foreign secretary in the opposition. 

She is speaking to us from Washington DC, where incoming US president Donald Trump will be officially sworn in tomorrow. 

But first she is asked about the delayed ceasefire in Gaza - and the news that a British-Israeli hostage may be freed after a list of three names were published by Hamas. 

She says this is "very delicate and fragile situation". 

"The families in Israel must be going through unimaginable anxiety," she says.

"We have to wait and see what materialises throughout the day, It's a delicate and fragile situation".

She adds: "We want to see all the hostages released, the start of three is incredibly important."

Asked about the mood over in the US against this backdrop, she says "unimaginable suffering" has happened on both sides and everyone wants to see the conflict come to an end. 

But she says in regard to the inauguration, there's a "sense of optimism" that people are about to see change. 

-SKY NEWS