Boris Johnson and Dominic Raab awkwardly dodge criticising Donald Trump for 'threatening to stop votes' as Number 10 says the PM watched 'quite a lot' of last night's TV coverage of the battle for the White House

Boris Johnson and Dominic Raab today awkwardly dodged criticising Donald Trump after he threatened a legal battle over the outcome of the US election. 

Mr Trump raised the prospect of dragging the result of the poll through the courts as the contest with Joe Biden came down to a handful of battleground states.

The White House incumbent falsely claimed he had won and also made unsubstantiated claims of a 'fraud on the American public' as he appeared to vow to go to the US Supreme Court to get vote counting stopped.  

His comments prompted outcry from critics but the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary refused to be drawn as the UK Government anxiously waits for the final verdict.

The matter was raised at PMQs by Sir Keir Starmer who asked Mr Johnson to 'join me in saying that it is not for a candidate to decide which votes do and don't count, or when to stop counting'.

But Mr Johnson declined to get involved as he replied: 'Of course, we don't comment as a UK Government on the democratic processes of our friends and allies and I don't think in all seriousness he would expect otherwise.' 

A Number 10 spokesman said Mr Johnson had watched 'quite a lot of' last night's TV coverage of the election. 

The PM's Official Spokesman said the Government is 'confident' the Special Relationship between the UK and the US 'will go from strength to strength whichever candidate wins the election'. 

Earlier, Mr Raab said the outcome of the election was closer than many pundits had expected but he insisted he was confident the 'checks and balances' in the US system would deliver a result in the end. 

Earlier the former Cabinet minister Jeremy Hunt warned that 'protracted legal arguments' over the result could turn into a 'catastrophe for the worldwide reputation of democracy'.        

In a round of broadcast interviews this morning, Dominic Raab said the outcome was closer than many pundits had expected

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Mr Raab told Sky News this morning: 'We'll see how this plays out, I think it could be a very close race. We may not get a definitive result for hours, if not days.

'But we are totally confident the American system has the checks and balances to give us a definitive result and we will wait and see.

'Of course, the UK-US relationship is in great shape and we are confident that it will go from strength to strength whichever candidate wins the election.'

'Depending who is in the White House there is always slightly different contours of the opportunities and risks for the relationship.'

However, he insisted the 'bedrock' of the Special Relationship was strong.

Mr Trump had said as vote counting was ongoing that 'frankly we did win this election' as he made claims of a 'fraud on the American public' and warned 'we will be going to the US Supreme Court, we want all voting to stop'.

Asked about the President's outburst, Mr Raab told Times Radio: 'I know that there is obviously a heated debate about the balance and the propriety of posted votes versus votes cast in the ballot box in a polling station – I'm just not getting drawn into that.

'We are right in the heated aftermath where both candidates are making statements … I'm not getting sucked in at all into that debate.'

Pressed on whether it would be good to 'call your close friend out', Mr Raab told the BBC: 'Well I think that you're now engaging in the campaign rather than just reporting on it.

'But the truth is, I think what's really important now is we wait and see how this uncertainty unfolds.'

Shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy was more forthright in condemning Mr Trump's remarks, branding them 'shocking'.

The Labour politician said it is 'absolutely essential' every vote is counted in the poll to ensure a 'definitive' result.

'What matters most of all for the world is that America gets a definitive result in this election – it is in nobody's interest to have civil unrest and months of ongoing instability in the middle of a global pandemic,' she told LBC radio.

Mr Hunt tweeted: 'Dear American friends... The reputation of democracy is at stake and the world is watching. Please proceed carefully.' 

Joe Biden made a speech this morning asking Americans to be patient and claiming he would eventually be the victor despite failing to land knockout blows in Florida, Ohio and Texas. Donald Trump made a speech from the East Room of the White House where he declared victory

Boris Johnson has formed a strong link with Mr Trump, who has been very enthusiastic about the prospects for a Transatlantic trade deal

Mr Johnson has formed a strong link with Mr Trump, who has been very enthusiastic about the prospects for a Transatlantic trade deal while the Democrats have struck a more negative tone. 

In an extraordinary White House statement, Mr Trump claimed the election was a 'fraud on the American people' and that he intended to launch a Supreme Court battle. 

He said: 'This is a fraud on the American public, this is an embarrassment to our country.

'We were getting ready to win this election – frankly we did win this election.

'So our goal now is to ensure the integrity for the good of this nation. This is a very big moment.

'We want the law to be used in a proper manner. So we will be going to the US Supreme Court, we want all voting to stop.'  

His comments set the stage for a titanic struggle with Mr Biden over the millions of ballots which are still to be counted and which might not be fully counted until as late as Friday.

Mr Biden had been first to speak, just after midnight, saying 'it ain't over till every vote is counted,' in an address from Wilmington, Delaware.

Mr Trump tweeted immediately to accuse Mr Biden of fraud and say he was 'winning BIG' and would make his own statement.

'Votes cannot be cast after the Poles are closed!' he tweeted from the White House residence – spelling polls incorrectly, but making clear that the battle in the coming hours and days is likely to be over late-arriving mail-in ballots.