By Rachael Grealish

After what felt like a never ending electoral count Joe Biden is officially the 46th President Elect of the United States.

Biden has been projected to have made it past the magical number of 270 electoral college votes with the state of Pennsylvania having 98 percent of the votes counted and Biden having unbeatable lead.

At age 77, and 78 upon his inauguration Biden will be the oldest US President in history.

The new president elect released a statement saying he is ‘honoured and humbled’.

He said: “I am honoured and humbled by the trust the American people have placed in me and in vice president-elect Harris.

“In the face of unprecedented obstacles, a record number of Americans voted. Proving once again, that democracy beats deep in the heart of America.

“With the campaign over, it’s time to put the anger and the harsh rhetoric behind us and come together as a nation.

“It’s time for America to unite. And to heal.

“We are the United States of America. And there’s nothing we can’t do, if we do it together.”

The election count was faced with controversy after the current president, Donald Trump, gave unfounded claims of voter fraud and on several occasions claimed the win – again this was unfounded in reflection of the actual results.

It doesn’t seems as if the president will concede to Biden as Sky News reported he released a statement saying: “We all know why Joe Biden is rushing to falsely pose as the winner, and why his media allies are trying so hard to help him: they don’t want the truth to be exposed.

“The simple fact is this election is far from over. Joe Biden has not been certified as the winner of any states, let alone any of the highly contested states headed for mandatory recounts, or states where our campaign has valid and legitimate legal challenges that could determine the ultimate victor. 

“In Pennsylvania, for example, our legal observers were not permitted meaningful access to watch the counting process.  Legal votes decide who is president, not the news media.

“Beginning Monday, our campaign will start prosecuting our case in court to ensure election laws are fully upheld and the rightful winner is seated. 

“The American People are entitled to an honest election: that means counting all legal ballots, and not counting any illegal ballots. This is the only way to ensure the public has full confidence in our election. 

“It remains shocking that the Biden campaign refuses to agree with this basic principle and wants ballots counted even if they are fraudulent, manufactured, or cast by ineligible or deceased voters. Only a party engaged in wrongdoing would unlawfully keep observers out of the count room – and then fight in court to block their access. 

“So what is Biden hiding? I will not rest until the American People have the honest vote count they deserve and that Democracy demands.”

His statements mentioned about ‘mandatory recounts’ again are unfounded, so far.

Here in the UK the leader of the opposition, Sir Keir Starmer, gave his congratulations to Biden saying he is looking forward to ‘an even stronger relationship between the UK and the USA.

He said: “Congratulations to Joe Biden on his election as President of the United States of America.

“He ran a campaign on the values that we in the United Kingdom share – decency, integrity, compassion and strength.

“And I want to congratulate Kamala Harris on being elected Vice-President, the first woman of colour to take that role.

“Their victory is one for hope and unity over dishonesty and division. Millions of Americans of all backgrounds and ages have come together to vote for a better, more optimistic future.

“This is also an important moment for the world.

“It is a chance to reassert America’s place as a force for good on the world stage. A nation that will work with Britain and other allies to defeat this pandemic and fight climate change.

“Joe Biden and the Democrats have always shared Labour’s values and the links between our two parties remain strong.

“I am looking forward to building on this and forging an even stronger relationship between the UK and the USA.”

Biden previously severed as the Vice President under Barack Obama during his tenure.