Steve Bannon in Italy to cheer on Eurosceptic parties

STEVE BANNON, the former strategist to Donald Trump, arrived in Italy yesterday to cheer on anti-establishment and populist parties as the country prepares to go to the polls.

Mr Bannon, who resigned from his White House position amid bitter acrimony, is said to be “intrigued” by Eurosceptic parties such as the Five Star Movement, Italy’s most popular party, and the stridently anti-immigration, anti-islam party The League.

He is also said to be interested in the growing discontent in countries such as Italy towards Brussels.

Matteo Salvini, the firebrand leader of The League, who warned that Islam was incompatible with Italy’s values and freedoms, was reportedly too busy campaigning to meet Mr Bannon.

The election is a three-way battle between a centre-right coalition led by Silvio Berlusconi that includes The League, the anti-establishment Five Star Movement founded by stand-up comedian Beppe Grillo, and the ruling centre-left Democratic Party. Both The League and Five Star have railed against the EU and suggested that Italy should ditch the euro as its currency.