'Donald Trump is not fit for office - his inflammatory language is playing with fire'

With shops boarded up in Washington and the National Guard placed on alert, the United States is holding its breath amid fears that Donald Trump’s wilder followers could launch a violent rampage.

As votes were counted in the knife-edge contest with Kamala Harris, Britain faced waking up to an ugly confrontation in a deeply divided America poisoned by Trump’s rants. His inflammatory language, and that of his allies like multi-billionaire Elon Musk, has been playing with fire.

Trump could well cast doubt on the result should Harris sneak home, having baselessly branded the Democrats “a bunch of cheats” and wrongly asserted that his rival could only triumph “if it was a corrupt election”. Democracies rely on fair elections, which the US has, and a loser accepting defeat. Whatever the result, the man who lost in 2020 then incited a failed coup has proved time after time he is unfit for the White House.

READ MORE:

Hoy’s legacy

When cancer survival chances are improved by early diagnosis it would save lives if the screening age for prostate cancer was lowered to 45 for men with a family history of the disease.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting is considering a proposal championed by Olympic cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy. It will hopefully result in the change, and a simple blood test could prove a lifesaver.

Sir Chris is setting a truly inspirational example as he deals with his terminal cancer and campaigns for others, creating a legacy that will be appreciated long into the future. Many might be crushed by his diagnosis. That he keeps on going will benefit us all.

Philp flops

The latest Tory leader’s Shadow Cabinet is a cobbled-together shambles. The new Shadow Home Secretary once appeared to confuse Rwanda with the DR Congo. Kemi Badenoch has given Chris Philp a top job but she’d never pick him on her quiz team.