PM urged to exploit Farage’s bond with Donald
THERESA May was last night under mounting pressure to give Nigel Farage a role as a go-between with Donald Trump.
Mr Farage posed with the billionaire US president-elect over the weekend – just days after No10 rejected reports he could play a formal role in Anglo-American relations.
Last night there were signs of splits at the top of government as one senior Whitehall source told the Prime Minister it would be ‘churlish’ not to take advantage of Mr Farage’s links with Trump.
They said the close connection between Mr Trump and the Ukip leader meant the PM should consider using his expertise.
‘While he is clearly not going to be an official representative, it would be churlish to rubbish him completely,’ the source said.
No10 dismissed any suggestion of embarrassment over Mr Farage being the first British politician to meet Mr Trump since his victory – saying they were ‘very relaxed’.
Downing Street insists Britain does not need Mr Farage’s help, pointing out that Mrs May had a warm phone conversation with the president-elect last week, in which he said he wanted a relationship similar to that of Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan.
Mr Farage said he was ‘extremely optimistic’ about a post-Brexit US-UK trade deal after meeting Mr Trump and his advisers, claiming he had persuaded Mr Trump to restore a bust of Winston Churchill – removed by Barack Obama – to the Oval Office.
But he warned Mrs May had to ‘mend some fences’ as the Trump camp was aware her chiefs of staff Fiona hill and Nick Timothy had been ‘very rude’ about the president-elect on social media.
In New York yesterday Mr Farage hinted ministers were sounding him out about working for the Government in some capacity.
In a swipe at British officials who have dismissed his links to Mr Trump, the Ukip leader said: ‘It would appear that the apparatchiks in Downing Street keep saying very negative things about me. I’d have thought that’s just a little bit short-sighted, frankly.
‘I would have thought, in the national interest, they perhaps ought to bury their personal enmity towards me and we ought to have a constructive conversation.’
he told Sky News: ‘If I’m wanted by anyone in London to help, I would help.’ Mr Farage’s currency is high with the Trump camp, which had been inspired by his role in Brexit.
Within hours of the election result last week, Steve Bannon, Mr Trump’s presidential campaign chief, admitted the Brexit vote had resounded with many of their supporters. ‘Nigel Farage is a hero to these people,’ he said.
Last night some senior Tories reacted with incredulity at the prospect of Mr Farage securing an official or semi-official role.
Former party leader Iain Duncan Smith said: ‘From what I’ve seen of Nigel Farage he doesn’t fly by aircraft, he flies by ego. If he’s so keen to get a job with us let’s hope it’s a good one – like our representative in Outer Mongolia.’
Crispin Blunt, chairman of the foreign affairs select committee, said it was ‘completely implausible’ the Ukip leader would take up such a role as he suggested.
‘I think there’s a fantastic opportunity actually for a decent relationship for the United Kingdom with the new administration – and no need for Nigel,’ he told The Andrew Marr Show on BBC1.
But ex-defence minister Sir Gerald howarth said it was a ‘mistake’ not to use Mr Farage. ‘We are living in unconventional times,’ he said.
‘We should use all means at our disposal to forge a connection with the man who will be leader of the free world. As we leave the EU, this relationship will me of even more importance. If Nigel Farage has an entree with the presidentelect, then fine – let’s use it. he’s not a criminal.’
Former UK trade envoy Lord Marland suggested Mr Farage
‘It’s a little bit short-sighted’ ‘He flies by ego, not aircraft’
could be a ‘salesman’ for Britain. he told BBC Radio 5 Live that Mr Trump will want to ‘turbo-charge’ the relationship between the US and the UK.
Another senior Whitehall source brushed off Mr Farage’s transatlantic adventures. ‘Farage is an MEP who went over there. This is not something we are thinking about,’ the source said.
But Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said Mr Farage’s meeting was a humiliation for Mrs May.
Donald Trump may only live in the White house part-time as he is so fond of his New York apartment, it has been claimed. A source told the New York Times Mr Trump was ‘talking with his advisers about how many nights a week he will spend in the White house’.