‘Tough’ for Donald Trump to win, says Farage

Nigel Farage has said it will be “tough” for Donald Trump to win the US presidency after a tape emerged of him boasting about using his celebrity status to prey on women.

But he also appeared to cast doubt over claims Mr Trump sexually assaulted women, describing their timing as “quite strange”.

The Ukip leader is a vocal supporter of many of Mr Trump’s policies and has spoken at a rally for the controversial Republican presidential candidate.

But Mr Trump’s bid has been plunged into crisis after a 2005 tape recording of him bragging to TV host Billy Bush about groping women because he is a celebrity.

Mr Farage told ITV’s Peston On Sunday the revelation has seriously damaged Mr Trump’s prospects of getting into the White House.

He said two and a half weeks ago he thought there were many “shy Trump voters, there are nonvoters like with Brexit” who do not show up in polls but could take Mr Trump to victory.

Mr Farage said: “I think the Bush tapes have really damaged him and at the moment he’s behind. It’s going to be tough, but it’s not impossible.”