Jeremy Corbyn has said Donald Trump’s election as President of the United States is an “unmistakable rejection” of the political establishment and an economic system that has delivered escalating inequality.

His comments come after Theresa May, the Prime Minister, congratulated the President-elect and said Britain and America will remain “strong and close partners”. Unlike her predecessor – who had branded Mr Trump’s previous comments “stupid, divisive and wrong” – Ms May has avoided directly criticising the Republican over his previous incendiary remarks.

In a statement the Labour leader said: “Many in Britain and elsewhere will be understandably shocked by Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election, the rhetoric around it and what the election result means for the rest of the world, as well as America.

Donald Trump: six hurdles he overcame to become US president

“Trump’s election is an unmistakable rejection of a political establishment and an economic system that simply isn’t working for most people. It is one that has delivered escalating inequality and stagnating or falling living standards for the majority, both in the US and Britain.

US Election night in pictures Show all 24 1 /24 US Election night in pictures US Election night in pictures NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 09: People celebrate during the call for Republican president-elect Donald Trump at his election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown on November 9, 2016 in New York City. at the New York Hilton Midtown in the early morning hours of November 9, 2016 in New York City. Donald Trump defeated Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton to become the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton is joined by her husband, former U.S. President Bill Clinton, at a campaign rally in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. November 7, 2016, the final day of campaigning before the election. REUTERS/Brian Snyder TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY Reuters US Election night in pictures U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and her husband, former U.S. President Bill Clinton, talk to reporters on her campaign plane in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. November 7, 2016, the final day of campaigning before the election. REUTERS/Brian Snyder Reuters US Election night in pictures Democratic party nominee Hillary Clinton gives a speech from a stand bearing the US President seal during a rally on Independence Mall, November 7, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. About 40,000 people flooded Independence Mall in Philadelphia for Hillary Clinton's rally with her husband Bill, President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle at her side, a campaign aide said. The attendance set a new record for Clinton, with the previous high point a rally in Ohio that drew 18,500 people, a campaign aide told reporters traveling with the candidate. / AFP PHOTO / Brendan SmialowskiBRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images Getty US Election night in pictures PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 07: U.S. President Barack Obama hugs Democratic presidential nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during a campaign rally on Independence Mall on November 7, 2016 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. With one day to go until election day, Hillary Clinton is campaigning in Pennsylvania, Michigan and North Carolina. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 07: Democratic presidential nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks during a campaign rally on Independence Mall on November 7, 2016 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. With one day to go until election day, Hillary Clinton is campaigning in Pennsylvania, Michigan and North Carolina. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures Supporters of U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton watch results at her election night rally in Manhattan, New York, U.S., November 8, 2016. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson Reuters US Election night in pictures People watch elections returns during election night at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York on November 8, 2016. US Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton will hold her election night event at the convention center. / AFP PHOTO / DON EMMERTDON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images Getty US Election night in pictures NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 08: A man reacts as he watches voting results at Democratic presidential nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's election night event at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center November 8, 2016 in New York City. Clinton is running against Republican nominee, Donald J. Trump to be the 45th President of the United States. (Photo by Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures People watch elections returns during election night at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York on November 8, 2016. US Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton will hold her election night event at the convention center. / AFP PHOTO / DON EMMERTDON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images Getty US Election night in pictures NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 08: People watch voting results at Democratic presidential nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's election night event at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center November 8, 2016 in New York City. Clinton is running against Republican nominee, Donald J. Trump to be the 45th President of the United States. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 08: People react as they watch voting results at Democratic presidential nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's election night event at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center November 8, 2016 in New York City. Clinton is running against Republican nominee, Donald J. Trump to be the 45th President of the United States. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 08: Supporters of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump cheer during the election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown on November 8, 2016 in New York City. Americans today will choose between Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton as they go to the polls to vote for the next president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 08: Supporters of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump cheer during the election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown on November 8, 2016 in New York City. Americans today will choose between Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton as they go to the polls to vote for the next president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 08: People cheer at Republican presidential nominee Donald Trumps election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown on November 8, 2016 in New York City. Americans today will choose between Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton as they go to the polls to vote for the next president of the United States. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - NOVEMBER 09: People carrie a picture of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton after a election watch event on November 9, 2016 in Seoul, South Korea. Counting process is underway and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has been elected the 45th president of the United States defeating Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 09: A woman takes a selfie during Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown on November 8, 2016 in New York City. Americans today will choose between Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton as they go to the polls to vote for the next president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures Supporters of Republican candidate Donald Trump, Stephanie Meza (L), 42, of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Rhonda Davis (R), 63, of Scottsdale, Arizona cheer as election results come in during a viewing party at a hotel in downtown Phoenix, Arizona on November 8, 2016. Millions of Americans voted November 8th for their new leader in a historic election that will either elevate Democrat Hillary Clinton as their first woman president or hand power to maverick populist Donald Trump. / AFP PHOTO / Laura SegallLAURA SEGALL/AFP/Getty Images Getty US Election night in pictures NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 09: Republican president-elect Donald Trump acknowledges the crowd during his election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown in the early morning hours of November 9, 2016 in New York City. Donald Trump defeated Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton to become the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 09: Republican president-elect Donald Trump walks on stage with his son Barron Trump, wife Melania Trump and Ivanka Trump during his election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown in the early morning hours of November 9, 2016 in New York City. Donald Trump defeated Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton to become the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 09: Vice president-elect Mike Pence and Republican president-elect Donald Trump shake hands during his election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown in the early morning hours of November 9, 2016 in New York City. Donald Trump defeated Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton to become the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Getty US Election night in pictures US President-elect Donald Trump greets wife Melania after speaking at the New York Hilton Midtown in New York on November 8, 2016. Trump stunned America and the world Wednesday, riding a wave of populist resentment to defeat Hillary Clinton in the race to become the 45th president of the United States. / AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEBSAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images Getty US Election night in pictures US President-elect Donald Trump greets doughter Tiffany after speaking at the New York Hilton Midtown in New York on November 8, 2016. Trump stunned America and the world Wednesday, riding a wave of populist resentment to defeat Hillary Clinton in the race to become the 45th president of the United States. / AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEBSAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images Getty US Election night in pictures Republican presidential elect Donald Trump (L) kisses his daughter Ivanka during election night at the New York Hilton Midtown in New York on November 9, 2016. Trump stunned America and the world Wednesday, riding a wave of populist resentment to defeat Hillary Clinton in the race to become the 45th president of the United States. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images

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

“But some of Trump’s answers to the big questions facing America, and the divisive rhetoric around them, are clearly wrong.

“I have no doubt, however, that the decency and common sense of the American people will prevail, and we send our solidarity to a nation of migrants, innovators and democrats.

“After this latest global wake up call, the need for a real alternative to a failed economic and political system could not be clearer.

“That alternative must be based on working together, social justice and economic renewal, rather than sowing fear and division. And the solutions we offer have to improve the lives of everyone, not pit one group of people against another.

“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.”

The Green party’s co-leader and sole MP, Caroline Lucas, however described the election of Mr Trump as a “devastating day”. Ms Lucas added: “For women. For people of colour. For a tolerant society. But we must not mourn, we must organise like never before.”

For Tim Farron, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, the election of Mr Trump meant the liberal values of moderation, freedom, respect for the rule of law, openness and concern for one another “can no longer be taken for granted”.

He added: “In the United States last night, those values were defeated”.

Richard Burgon, the shadow justice minister, said: “Deeply worrying that Trump – given what he has said and given what he has done – elected as leader of most powerful country on earth.”

Trump win is a 'difficult moment for the EU'

Labour’s shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth, added: “Across the world the left push out and losing ground. We can’t ignore difficult questions of how to build fairer, progressive future and economic justice.”

Mr Corbyn has previously struck a more conciliatory tone with the President-elect and in January, rather than backing a petition to ban Mr Trump from Britain, he invited him on a tour of a North London mosque. It came after incendiary comments from the billionaire businessman who had, at the time, called for a “total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States”.

Mr Corbyn said in January: “I decided to invite Donald Trump on his visit to Britain to come with me to my constituency because he has problems with Mexicans and he has problems with Muslims,”