Lammy: We are open to holding a meeting with Trump
LABOUR is open to a meeting with Donald Trump, The Telegraph understands.
David Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary, has already held meetings with several Republican figures including the former national security advisor (NSA) Robert C O’Brien and ex-secretary of state Mike Pompeo. While the decision to court Republicans – particularly Mr Trump – is controversial in some left-wing circles, senior figures in the party believe it is crucial to prepare for their possible victory in the US elections. A Labour source said: “The US is the UK’s most essential ally. Labour is a realist party which will work with any US administration. This is an election year in the US as well as the UK which is why we’re building on our strong links on both sides of the aisle.”
Mr Trump is the presumptive winner of the Republican nomination. Last month he won enough delegates to take him over the 1,215 threshold and secure the nomination for his party. In the mega-contest on Super Tuesday, Trump won 24 of the 26 states that voted.
Unlike in 2020, when the incumbent Joe Biden was always some way ahead of Trump in polling, Trump has held a small lead for much of 2024. Recent polls show Trump ahead in four swing states that could determine the outcome of the election. His last remaining rival, Nikki Haley, trailed far behind, having won only in Vermont and the District of Columbia. She dropped out of the race shortly afterwards.
Last week, Nigel Farage suggested that he would be willing to work alongside a Labour government as a trade envoy if Mr Trump becomes US president. Mr Farage, the former Ukip leader predicted his friend would win the presidential election and said he would be “very interested” to work with Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader. Asked at a Telegraph event whether he wanted to be “Starmer’s man in Washington”, Mr Farage replied: “That isn’t going to happen. It may well be the other way round. I do think in the national interest there needs to be an intermediary between Mr Trump and an incoming Labour government. If I can help with that, I’d be very interested to do so.”
Mr Lammy held a series of meetings with Republican figures last month at the Munich security conference, including Ohio senator JD Vance who has been floated as a potential Republican running mate to Mr Trump. Sources said the relationship between the two are warm. Mr Lammy has also held talks with Mr O’Brien, who served as the NSA from 2019 to 2021. He is tipped for a role in a future Republican administration.
Labour sources are keen to note Mr Lammy has also made a good impression on Democrats. When Barack Obama was in London last month, Mr Lammy was invited to a dinner at Winfield House, the residence of US Ambassador Jane Hartley, to mark his visit.