After Nigel Farage offered to strengthen ties between Sir Keir Starmer’s Government and Donald Trump, GB News asks its members if the Reform UK leader should really help the Prime Minister?
The Reform UK leader was slapped down by senior Labour MPs after urging Starmer to “roll out the red carpet” for the soon-to-be 47th President.
Farage told GB News: “We have the prospect of a Trump Government bringing in quite big tariffs for all foreign imports, something that we need to deal with by getting involved in negotiations as quickly as we reasonably can – and that means rolling out the red carpet.
When pressed on whether he could play a key role to play in bridging the gap between Trump and Starmer, the Clacton MP added: “When he [Trump] appoints his Cabinet, I’m probably going to know quite a few of them personally quite well, so I do think that I might have a role to play in helping to break down those barriers.
“I’m pleased to see that Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has said he looks forward to the American President addressing both Houses of Parliament next year when he comes on a visit, so that’s at least a start.
“But we do need to get talking to the Trump transition team as soon as those big positions, such as trade, are appointed.”
However, Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden rejected the offer from Farage.
He simply said: “I think we’ll have our own relationships.”
Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe also appeared to question how well Labour were doing at forging links with Trump’s top team after the President-elect called Emmanuel Macron and Benjamin Netanyahu before picking up the phone to the Prime Minister.
“No surprise that Trump chose to speak with Macron ahead of Starmer,” the Great Yarmouth MP said.
“Labour’s pathetic playground politics is costing Britain dearly.
“Lammy, Rayner and the lot of them should put aside their egos and apologise to President-elect Trump. For the national interest.”
However, No10 played down the significance of Starmer trailing Macron and Netanyahu, highlighting the Prime Minister’s private dinner with Trump in September.
Starmer released a photo showing him grinning on the phone while speaking to Trump shortly after the ex-President belatedly received a concession call from Harris.
In a social media update, the Prime Minister said: “Good to speak with President-elect Donald Trump to congratulate him on his historic victory.”
A Downing Street spokesman added: “The Prime Minister offered his hearty congratulations and said he looked forward to working closely with president-elect Trump across all areas of the special relationship.
“From defence and security to growth and prosperity, the relationship between the UK and US was incredibly strong and would continue to thrive for many years to come, the leaders agreed.
“The Prime Minister also reflected on the situation in the Middle East and underscored the importance of regional stability.
“The leaders fondly recalled their meeting in September, and President-elect Trump’s close connections and affinity to the United Kingdom and looked forward to working with one another.”
Starmer’s call with Trump also comes after a number of top Labour MPs were slammed over a series of unearthed comments about the next US President.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy called Trump a “neo-Nazi sympathising sociopath”, while Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner labelled the 78-year-old a “buffoon”.
Earlier today, Rayner separately confirmed she spoke to Vice-President-elect JD Vance.
She said: “We spoke about our plans for the future and how, working together, we build on the special relationship between our great countries.”
Labour also came under fire after the Trump campaign filed a complaint when staffers descended on swing states to campaign for Harris.
Should Nigel Farage help Starmer to build bridges with Donald Trump? Have your say in the comments section below.
