Nigel Farage said it is ‘more fool them’ if Labour doesn’t make use of his links to the Donald Trump administration amid growing fears the incoming President will bring in tariffs
Nigel Farage has claimed he can help stop his “friends” in Donald Trump’s inner circle bringing in damaging tariffs.
The publicity-savvy Reform UK leader has called on Keir Starmer to let him help incoming US Ambassador Peter Mandelson deal with the erratic incoming President. There are widespread fears that Mr Trump could impose damaging tariffs when he returns to the White House next month.
No10 refused to say whether Mr Farage’s input would be welcome, saying the PM had “already started to begin to build a relationship with President-elect Trump”. The Reform leader, a friend of Mr Trump, claimed he could be a “useful asset”, telling Labour it is “more fool them” if they do not use him. He told The Telegraph he could help with talks on trade, tariffs, intelligence-sharing and countering terrorism because “a lot of the members of the president’s cabinet are friends of mine, and many of them long-term friends”.
Clacton MP Mr Farage, who has repeatedly jetted off to the US to support Mr Trump since being elected to Parliament, has called for a role several times. Lord Mandelson said in November: “He’s a bridgehead, both to President Trump and to Elon Musk and others. You’ve got to be pragmatic, practical about this. You’ve got to work the national interest in and that national interest is served in all sorts of weird and wonderful ways.”
Labour heavyweight Lord Mandelson was named as the next US Ambassador last week. The Government said his background as Britain’s European Commissioner, taking responsiblity for trade, made him an ideal pick.
