UK prime minister congratulates Trump

United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May congratulated Donald Trump early Wednesday, saying she looks forward to working with the president-elect.

“I would like to congratulate Donald Trump on being elected the next President of the United States, following a hard-fought campaign,” she said in a statement.

{mosads}“Britain and the United States have an enduring and special relationship based on the values of freedom, democracy and enterprise,” she added.

“We are, and will remain, strong and close partners on trade, security and defence.”

May said she looks forward to working with Trump to build upon those ties “to ensure the security and prosperity of our nations in the years ahead.”

Trump had tied his outsider campaign to the historic Brexit vote, telling supporters in August to “redeclare American independence” by electing him president.

“On June 23, people of Britain voted to declare their independence — which is what we’re looking to do also, folks — from their international government, which hasn’t worked,” the GOP nominee said at a rally in Jackson, Miss.

He said that British voters “took control of their destiny” to overcome a “rigged system” by voting to leave the European Union.

Nigel Farage, a leading Brexit advocate, also congratulated Trump early Wednesday.

“I hand over the mantle to @RealDonaldTrump!” Farage tweeted. “Many congratulations. You have fought a brave campaign.”

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said that while many people in Britain and elsewhere will be “shocked” by Trump’s win, the real estate mogul’s victory is a “rejection of a political establishment and economic system that simply isn’t working for most people.”

“This is a rejection of a failed economic consensus and a governing elite that has been seen not to have listened,” Corbyn said in a statement. “And the public anger that has propelled Donald Trump to office has been reflected in political upheavals across the world.”

Corbyn added, however, that some of Trump’s answers “are clearly wrong.”

“Americans have made their choice. The urgent necessity is now for us all to work across continents to tackle our common global challenges: to secure peace, take action on climate change and deliver economic prosperity and justice.”

— This report was updated at 5:58 a.m.