Theresa May has congratulated Donald Trump on his bombshell election as US President and insisted the 'special relationship' between Britain and the US will remain 'strong'.

The Prime Minister, who has previously criticised Mr Trump, said she looks forward to working with him in the White House and promised Britain will stay as 'close partners on trade, security and defence'.

As she issued her statement this morning - shortly after the Republican's shock victory was declared - other British politicians denounced the new president-elect for his 'racist and sexist' campaign.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn pointedly refused to congratulate Mr Trump in his response this morning but suggested his victory was a good omen for his radical left-wing agenda for Britain.

He said Mr Trump's election was 'an unmistakable rejection of a political establishment,' adding: 'After this latest global wake up call, the need for a real alternative to a failed economic and political system could not be clearer.'

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon did congratulate Mr Trump but urged him to 'reach out to those who felt marginalised by his campaign' and reassure the 'real sense of anxiety' he caused.

Theresa May, pictured in Downing Street today, has congratulated Donald Trump on his bombshell election as US President and insisted the 'special relationship' between Britain and the US will remain 'strong'

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, pictured today, pointedly refused to congratulate Mr Trump in his response this morning but suggested his victory was a good omen for his radical left-wing agenda for Britain

Labour, Lib Dem and Scottish nationalist MPs were united in denouncing Mr Trump's election victory. SNP MP Carol Monaghan warned: Xenophobic, racist, sectarian and sexist rhetoric has just been legitimised. We should all be very afraid,' while Lib Dem MP Tom Brake declared: 'This is the end of the world' and former shadow minister Luciana Berger said she had woken up to a 'nightmare'

Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who also publicly condemned Mr Trump last year after he criticised London's police, wrote on Twitter this morning: 'Congratulations to Donald Trump and much looking forward to working with his administration on global stability and prosperity.'

His welcoming words come less than a year after he became embroiled in a public spat with Mr Trump after the Republican claimed some parts of London were 'no-go areas' because of Muslim extremism.

Mr Johnson, then the Mayor of London, hit back: 'The only reason I wouldn't go to some parts of New York is the real risk of meeting Donald Trump.' He even declared Mr Trump 'unfit' to serve as President.

British MPs were deeply split in their reaction to Mr Trump's shock victory today.

While MPs from Labour, Lib Dem and Scottish nationalists condemned Mr Trump's 'hate-filled campaign,' some Tory MPs hailed the billionaire as the 'Reagan for our times, saying his presidency would be good for Britain as we prepare to leave the EU and praised his 'positive' approach to the UK.

Former Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett didn't hold back in expressing her anger against Mr Trump today. She told Sky News this afternoon: 'This is a vile and horrible man, who fought a vile and horrible campaign.'

Mrs May also criticised Mr Trump last year over his policy to ban all Muslims from entering America, describing him as 'plain wrong'. Former Prime Minister David Cameron described the policy as 'divisive, stupid and wrong'.

But today Mrs May struck a much more conciliatory tone as she responded to his election victory.

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

Britain's politicians were divided as they reacted to Donald Trump's shock election victory. Pictured, the Republican pumps his fist as he made his first public appearance since the result was announced this morning

Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, pictured meeting with his Croatian counterpart Davor Ivor Stier in Zagreb today, publicly condemned Mr Trump last year after he criticised London's police but congratulated the Republican on his election victory today

Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson congratulated Donald Trump on Twitter and said he was 'looking forward to working with his administration on global stability and prosperity'

'Britain and the United States have an enduring and special relationship based on the values of freedom, democracy and enterprise.

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

'I look forward to working with President-elect Donald Trump, building on these ties to ensure the security and prosperity of our nations in the years ahead.'

Rival political leaders reacted differently, with Lib Dem leader Tim Farron saying the 'liberal values of moderation, freedom, respect for the rule' were 'defeated' in the US last night.

In his statement this morning, Mr Corbyn said: '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.

'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.'

Former shadow minister Luciana Berger said she had woken up to a 'nightmare' while Brendan Cox, the husband of the late Jo Cox, who was tragically killed a week before the EU referendum, urged people not to 'mourn' but to 'organise' to fight back against the likes of Donald Trump. Meanwhile the Tory donor Lord Ashcroft said Trump's presidency will be good for Britain

Theresa May, pictured in Downing Street today, said she looks forward to working with Donald Trump after he was elected the 45th President of the United States

He added: '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.'

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale (pictured) issued a damning statement, saying she had watched 'with great sadness' as the results came in, adding: 'Today is a dark day for those of us who believe in compassion, tolerance and equality'

The Muslim Council of Britain said there is 'justifiable concern' about Mr Trump's election and called on him to take a more 'reconciliatory approach' to ensure his victory 'is not a green light for bigotry for the rest of the world'.

The Scottish government has clashed with Mr Trump for years over his plans to develop luxury golf courses on protected land.

Today Ms Sturgeon, another UK leader who has publicly criticised him, was forced to change her tone towards the billionaire.

She said in a statement: 'While this is not the outcome I hoped for, it is the verdict of the American people and we must respect it. I congratulate president-elect Trump on winning the election.

'We value our relationship with the United States and its people. The ties that bind Scotland and the US - of family, culture and business - are deep and longstanding and they will always endure.'

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale issued a damning statement, saying she had watched 'with great sadness' as the results came in, adding: 'Today is a dark day for those of us who believe in compassion, tolerance and equality'.

'Donald Trump was responsible for a hate-filled campaign that was dominated by lies, misogyny and racism,' she said. As president-elect, he now has a responsibility to America and the world to heal the deep divisions he has caused.'

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon did congratulate Mr Trump but urged him to 'reach out to those who felt marginalised by his campaign' and reassure the 'real sense of anxiety' he caused

Tory MP Jacob Rees Mogg, pictured left, pointed to remarks from Mr Trump that under his presidency Britain would be 'at the front of the line' for a trade deal after Brexit. But Tim Farron, pictured right, condemned Mr Trump and said the 'liberal values of moderation, freedom, respect for the rule' were 'defeated' in the US last night

Lib Dem MP Tom Brake declared: 'This is the end of the world', while former shadow minister Luciana Berger said she had woken up to a 'nightmare'.

And SNP MP Carol Monaghan warned: 'Xenophobic, racist, sectarian and sexist rhetoric has just been legitimised. We should all be very afraid.'

Their scathing comments on Mr Trump contrasted with more positive remarks from Tories, such as David Morris, MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale, who told the Mail: 'I think he will be a Reagan for our times and recalibrate America and the world in a steady business-like manner.'

UK ECONOMY IS ROCKED BY TRUMP'S VICTORY AS CHOAS HITS MARKETS When the FTSE 100 opened on Wednesday morning it opened 2 per cent down, wiping £37 billion off the off stock markets. Within half an hour it had risen following Trump's victory speech Britain's unstable economy was plunged further into turmoil today as markets reacted to Donald Trump's shock election as US President. An alarming £37billion was wiped off the UK's top listed companies as London's FTSE 100 Index dropped as much as 2 per cent this morning, but there was a boost for the UK pound this morning as sterling rose to a high of $1.25. In scenes reminiscent of the turbulent market reaction to June's Brexit vote, the UK's blue-chip took a dramatic nosedive, falling 147 points to 6696.3, while the FTSE 250 was down 300 points. But markets recovered some of the earlier losses after Mr Trump delivered a relatively conciliatory victory speech at 8am, which contained none of his confrontational rhetoric from his campaign. Investors were calmed as Mr Trump instead focused on his pledges to reunite America, invest millions in large infrastructure projects and business tax cuts. By 9am BST the FTSE100 recovered slightly and overall losses were around 0.5 per cent at 6810.5 points. The market volatility was likened to the aftermath of June's Brexit vote, although today's reaction was not as drastic and did not have the help of the Bank of England pumping out millions to stave off further losses. But the further uncertainty delivers a blow to Britain's economy as Theresa May prepares to start negotiations to leave the EU. She has already been forced to abandon the Treasury's spending targets and Philip Hammond, the Chancellor, is expected to announce a significant fiscal package in this month's mini-budget. However, Mr Trump's victory delivered a financial boost for British pharmaceutical firms due to his pledge to scrap Obamacare and Hillary Clinton's hardline stance on the industry. Shares in GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca rose this morning. Advertisement

Tory MP Jacob Rees Mogg pointed to remarks from Mr Trump that under his presidency Britain would be 'at the front of the line' for a trade deal after Brexit, in contrast to Barack Obama's pre-referendum warning that the UK would be at the 'back of the queue' if it voted for Brexit.

He told MailOnline: 'Donald Trump has spoken positively about the UK especially regarding a trade deal saying we would be at the front of the line. This is more positive than the hostile approach taken by Obama so I am optimistic about Anglo American relations.'

And Philip Davies, another hardline Eurosceptic Tory MP, congratulated Mr Trump for his 'stunning election victory.'

He said: 'He has always made clear his support for the UK and for our decision to leave the EU and I therefore look forward to very close UK and US relations and I hope we can look forward to a trade deal which is in the best interests of people in the UK and the US.'

Mr Davies, who was the only MP to openly back Mr Trump during the election campaign, added that Hillary Clinton 'represents everything I hate about politics'.

The happiest politician in the UK was undoubtedly Nigel Farage, the interim Ukip leader, who caught the first flight to America this morning after Mr Trump's shock victory.

He hailed Donald Trump's shock election victory as 'bigger than Brexit' this morning as he caught the first flight to America to congratulate his Republican ally.

The Ukip figurehead, who oversaw the first seismic political shock this year with his lead role in Britain's exit from the EU, said it was another victory for the 'little people' protesting against the establishment.

He said Mr Trump's presidency would be good for Britain, saying: 'There'll be a friend in the White House – someone who likes this country – rather than the Obamas and Clintons, who look down on us.'

Mr Farage, nicknamed 'Mr Brexit' by his friend Mr Trump, was all smiles as he watched the results come in at the US presidential election night party at the US embassy in London.

And as he laughed and joked with journalists this morning, he was already outlining a role he could fulfill: President Trump's ambassador to the EU.

Senior Tory MP Steve Baker said the warning signs of a Trump victory were all to clear.

'For all my time in politics, I have said we were heading into a profound crisis of political economy,' he said.

'Big government, high taxes, crony capitalism, excess borrowing and easy money created the present developing global phenomenon.

'The answer is limited government, lower taxes, balanced budgets, honest money and free markets, that is, Conservatism of the old liberal kind.'

Brendan Cox, who has become a figurehead for the fight against hate crime since his wife and Labour MP Jo Cox was tragically killed a week before the EU referendum, urged people not to give up the fight against extremist politicians like Mr Trump.

He wrote on Twitter: 'History will judge us for how we respond. This must galvanise the political centre not shatter it. There is too much at stake.'

Mr Cox added: 'Jo would not want to rest in peace. In death as in life she will forever be an activist. A passionate force for good in the world.'

'This is bigger than Brexit!' Nigel Farage flies to America TODAY in a bid to be Donald's ambassador to the EU

Nigel Farage speaks to the media outside the US presidential election night party at the US Embassy in London earlier this morning

Nigel Farage hailed Donald Trump's shock election victory as 'bigger than Brexit' this morning as he caught the first flight to America to congratulate his Republican ally.

The Ukip figurehead, who oversaw the first seismic political shock this year with his lead role in Britain's exit from the EU, said it was another victory for the 'little people' protesting against the establishment.

He said Mr Trump's presidency would be good for Britain, saying: 'There'll be a friend in the White House – someone who likes this country – rather than the Obamas and Clintons, who look down on us.'

Mr Farage, nicknamed 'Mr Brexit' by his friend Mr Trump, was all smiles as he watched the results come in at the US presidential election night party at the US embassy in London.

And as he laughed and joked with journalists this morning, he was already outlining a role he could fulfill: President Trump's ambassador to the EU.

Nigel Farage has helped Donald Trump in his campaign to win the presidency, joining him on stage in Jackson, Mississippi in August, pictured, where the Republican introduced the interim Ukip leader as 'Mr Brexit'

Appearing on LBC Radio, Mr Farage said: 'Is he going to offer me a job? I'm hoping he might do.

'He will be in need of a proper Eurosceptic ambassador in Brussels for the European Union. I would rather like that job.'

He added: 'Being a foreigner will not disqualify me. As long as we can bring the EU down, it doesn't matter how we do it.'

Mr Farage, who is serving as interim Ukip leader until next month, said he would do the job 'very well' having been an MEP in Brussels for nearly two decades.

Mr Farage was so confident Mr Trump will win the presidential race that he's booked a flight to the US for later this morning.