A civil war has erupted in the Labour Party after senior figures distanced themselves from Sadiq Khan’s suggestion that Donald Trump is a fascist.

The London Mayor said the incoming US president was part of “resurgent fascism haunting the West”.

He added: “The hard-Right and far-Right are on the march. These are deeply worrying times.”

However, when asked about Mr Khan’s comments, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones told the BBC: “I don’t agree with it.

“I speak on behalf of the Government, and we don’t agree with it.”

Sir Keir Starmer yesterday hailed Britain’s relationship with America, saying: “With President Trump’s longstanding affection and historical ties to the United Kingdom, I know that depth of friendship will continue.

“We will continue to build upon the unshakeable foundations of our historic alliance as we tackle together the global challenges we face and take our partnership to the next level focused on shared opportunities ahead for growth.”

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Mr Trump is set to be inaugurated on Monday for his second term as US president.

He and Mr Khan have clashed in the past, including in 2019 when he called the London Mayor a “stone-cold loser” ahead of visiting the UK.

Mr Trump wrote: “Sadiq Khan, who by all accounts has done a terrible job as Mayor of London, has been foolishly ‘nasty’ to the visiting president of the United States, by far the most important ally of the United Kingdom.

“He is a stone-cold loser who should focus on crime in London, not me.”

A spokesman for Mr Khan said at the time that “childish insults should be beneath the president of the United States”.