US riots: Donald Trump to blamed for US Capitol siege: Boris Johnson

Johnson’s remarks went much further than Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who has condemned the violence but declined to directly comment on Trump’s role.

“It’s not for me to offer commentary on other leaders,” Morrison said in Canberra. “I don’t do that out of respect for those nations. And that’s where I’m going to leave that matter.

“I’ve expressed my great concern and distress about what has been happening in the United States, just as other leaders of the world’s democracies have and I concur with their view.”

The riot left four people dead and dozens of police officers injured, including one critically.

It has also stoked debate in the United States about whether Trump should be removed from the White House before his term expires on January 20.

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Johnson said the Capitol attack had shocked the world but the perpetrators had not managed to overturn the November 3 presidential election results, which were being certified by Congress when the attack happened.

“All my life, America has stood for some very important things – an idea of freedom, an idea of democracy,” Johnson said.

“All I can say is I am very pleased President-elect [Joe Biden] has been duly confirmed in office and that democracy has prevailed.”

Earlier, Home Secretary Priti Patel criticised Trump for inciting the riot and then not doing enough to stop it.

“His comments directly led to the violence and so far he has failed to condemn that violence and that is completely wrong,” she said.

“He basically has made a number of comments yesterday that helped to fuel that violence and he didn’t actually do anything to de-escalate that whatsoever… what we’ve seen is completely unacceptable.”

Britain’s former ambassador to Washington, Kim Darroch, said Trump was not fit to be in office.

“Some of us though have been pointing out for a long time… this guy was not fit to be President, is not fit to be President, and he doesn’t respect any of the norms of presidential behaviour.”

Darroch resigned in 2019 after the publication of confidential diplomatic cables in which he declared the US administration inept, insecure and incompetent.

He also accused Downing Street of getting “too close” to the Trump White House.