Spy claims ‘will not be repeated’

Donald Trump’s press secretary has assured Britain’s ambassador to the US he will not repeat allegations that UK agency GCHQ spied on the president.

AmbassadorSirKimDarroch spoke to Sean Spicer after the presidential spokesman repeated claims that the UK intelligence agency was used by Barack Obama to spy onMr Trump before last year’s election.

The allegations were described by GCHQ as “utterly ridiculous”, in a rare public intervention which was backed by UK Government officials, including Sir Kim and the prime minister’s national security adviser Sir Mark Lyall Grant.

Britain was told the claims will not be repeated, showing the US administration does not give them credence, TheresaMay’s official spokesman said.

He said: “We have made clear to the (US) administration that these claims are ridiculousandthat they should be ignored and we have received assurances they won’t be repeated.”

Asked ifUK-US relations had been damaged, he replied: “We have a close, special relationship with the White House and that allows us to raise concerns as and when they arise as was true in this case.”

He added: “We have received assurances that these allegations won’t be repeated and this shows the administration doesn’t give the allegations any credence.”

The PM’s spokesman said it would not be possible for GCHQ to spy onMr Trump as both countries are members of the Five Eyes alliance, a joint intelligence agreement which also includes Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

“I would add, just as a matter of fact, with the Five Eyes pact, we cannot use each other’s capabilities to circumvent laws,” he said.

“Our relationship allows us to raise concerns”

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