LETTER: Congratulation inappropriate

I was surprised to read [Herald, November 11] that Eastbourne's MP Caroline Ansell has congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the US presidential election. I am well aware that diplomatic niceties require heads of government to offer their congratulations but I doubt whether many backbench members of Parliament would have regarded it as necessary or appropriate to do the same.

I am sure that Mrs Ansell must be aware of the lies, the xenophobia, racism and misogyny that were some of the hallmarks of Mr Trump’s campaign, also his absurd characterisation of man-made climate change as a ‘Chinese hoax’ and the vitriolic abuse that he hurled at his Democratic party opponent throughout.

Most of us (including many who voted for Mrs Ansell to be our MP) will sleep less easily in our beds in the knowledge that Mr Trump will be in office in less than two months’ time and that his finger could potentially be on the nuclear button.

Mrs Ansell would do well to reassure us that her congratulations to Mr Trump were borne out of diplomatic politeness and not as a result of misguided enthusiasm for the election of this deeply unpleasant man.

John Carmody

Royal Parade

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