Did diplomats snub US party over Farage?

With Donald trump threatening a trade war over steel, it’s more important than ever that the Foreign Office forges strong links with the White house.

Last month, our man in Washington, Sir Kim Darroch, was invited by Mississippi Republican governor Phil Bryant to a cocktail party to mark the launch of the Royal Commonwealth Society of the United States.

Lord howell, a Cabinet minister under Mrs thatcher, went in his capacity as president of the Royal Commonwealth Society in Britain. Guests included two of trump’s heavy hitters: education secretary Betsy DeVos and commerce secretary Wilbur Ross.

there were also more than a dozen senators and governors at the soirée. But the British embassy was a surprise no-show.

‘ Unfortunately, the British Ambassador Sir Kim Darroch will be out of DC at that time and our Deputy Ambassador has a clash of events, so neither will be able to attend,’ was the embassy response to the invitation.

the White house smells a rat — not least because the invitation named not only Lord howell as a special guest, but also former Ukip leader Nigel Farage. Arron Banks, the insurance tycoon who gave millions to the Leave campaign, was at the party, and said: ‘ Our American hosts regarded the absence of our diplomats as a snub. the Mississippi governor says they stayed away because of Farage, even though he’s the British politician best connected to the White house.

‘the embassy in Washington has a huge diplomatic corps, but they couldn’t spare one person for the party. What a joke.’

the embassy was criticised after the U.S. election for spending too much time wooing hillary Clinton and virtually ignoring trump, who it assumed would lose.

No wonder trump said weeks before his inauguration: ‘Many people would like to see Nigel Farage represent Great Britain as their Ambassador to the United States. he would do a great job!’

if Farage did have that role, i doubt he’d have turned down the invitation — especially if there was a stiff drink involved!