Fiona Bruce and Sarah Jones clashed on BBC Question Time (Image: BBC)
Squirming Sarah Jones was left tongue-tied as she struggled to name any benefits of Donald Trump returning to the White House.
The Minister for Industry, appearing on BBC Question Time, was asked “can you not think of any benefits?”
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Ms Jones spoke generically about the UK’s relationship with the US, before finally admitting Mr Trump could help end the Middle East crisis.
Supporters have argued the President-elect’s fearsome reputation could reign-in Vladimir Putin, Iran and North Korea.
Labour's Sarah Jones struggled to name any benefits of a Donald Trump Presidency (Image: BBC)
BBC Question Time host Fiona Hamilton challenged Ms Jones over Donald Trump (Image: BBC)
During a discussion about any benefits to the UK of a Trump Presidency, Ms Jones said: “The trade between our two countries is about ￡300billion a year.
“If you look at inward investment coming into the UK, we had a big investment summit a few weeks ago, there were some big American firms that are investing in the UK.
“Equally, some of our firms go and invest in America. So we have this very strong relationship when it comes to security, when it comes to intelligence sharing.”
But Ms Bruce challenged the Labour politician, saying “none of that is specific to Trump?”
And the minister said: “What I would hope is that we have a new President, who won a very decisive victory, so he has a clear mandate for four years.
“We’ve just had a general election in the UK and we won a clear mandate for four years. So these two Governments need to work together.”
Ms Bruce then asked: “Can you not think of any benefits?”
And Ms Jones insisted: “This is what I’m saying. If you look at what’s happened, if you look at the relationships we have, then I hope we work with Donald Trump to build on those.
“I hope we have more trade.
“If you look at the World at the moment, the dangers that we see around us, this is an insecure World.
“America is the most powerful country in the World. He is the most powerful President. We have to be working really closely to make sure we are delivering progress in the Middle East, for example, and that’s what Keir Starmer, in his conversation with Donald Trump, spoke about yesterday.
“This is an opportunity to get some kind of change to the really awful situation we find in the Middle East.”
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The BBC Question Time host then responded: “And you think he’s the man to do that?”
And Ms Jones only manages to say: “I think we’ll have to see what he manages to achieve.
“My point is we are going to work really closely with America.”
Mrs Bruce interjects with “you’ve made that point, my point is about the benefits specifically.”
Number 10, which is seeking to build bridges with Mr Trump after his campaign filed a legal complaint about Labour activists backing rival Kamala Harris, said Sir Keir Starmer is willing to work with Donald Trump.
A Downing Street spokeswoman said: “The Prime Minister spoke to President-elect Donald Trump this evening to congratulate him on his historic victory.
“The Prime Minister offered his hearty congratulations and said he looked forward to working closely with President-elect Trump across all areas of the special relationship.
“From defence and security to growth and prosperity, the relationship between the UK and US was incredibly strong and would continue to thrive for many years to come, the leaders agreed.
“The Prime Minister also reflected on the situation in the Middle East and underscored the importance of regional stability.
“The leaders fondly recalled their meeting in September, and President-elect Trump’s close connections and affinity to the United Kingdom and looked forward to working with one another.”
Concerns have also mounted about the prospect of a UK-US trade deal in light of Mr Trump's proposal to impose hefty tariffs on American imports.
And Foreign Secretary David Lammy once called Mr Trump a “woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath” who is “a profound threat to the international order”.
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In an article in Time magazine in 2018, Mr Lammy wrote: "Trump is not only a woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath.
"He is also a profound threat to the international order that has been the foundation of Western progress for so long.
"It is because I cherish and champion those values that this Friday, I will march with London against Donald Trump."