Starmer vows Trump relationship remains strong despite complaint of ‘blatant foreign interference’ | Politics News

Sir Keir Starmer has stressed that his relationship with Donald Trump remains intact despite accusations from the Republican candidate’s team about Labour’s involvement in the US election.

The prime minister stated that he had established a positive rapport with Mr Trump, despite the Trump campaign lodging a legal complaint against Labour officials who volunteered for Kamala Harris in the closely contested presidential race.

The complaint, filed with the independent Federal Election Commission, alleged that the involvement of Labour Party members and reports of contact between senior Labour operatives and the Harris campaign constituted “illegal foreign campaign contributions and interference” to support Mr Trump’s Democratic opponent in the US presidential election.

Sir Keir downplayed the situation and the role of Labour Party activists in the US election while traveling to Samoa for the annual Commonwealth heads of government summit.

During a press conference on the 28-hour flight, the PM emphasized that Labour Party members were volunteering in their spare time and not officially representing the party.

“The Labour Party has volunteers who have participated in almost every election,” he explained.

“They are volunteering in their free time, staying with other volunteers over there. This is what they have done in previous elections and what they are doing in this election, so it’s pretty straightforward.”

The Labour Party has clarified that it is not funding the travel or accommodation for activists. Federal election rules mandate that foreign volunteers cannot spend more than $1,000 (£770) assisting candidates.

In their complaint, Mr Trump’s legal team highlighted media reports about Labour Party officials, including the prime minister’s chief of staff Morgan McSweeney and Matthew Doyle, Downing Street’s director of communications, traveling to the US to advise the Harris campaign in recent months.

The Trump team also referenced a now-deleted LinkedIn post by Sofia Patel, director of operations for Labour, suggesting that the party might cover accommodation costs for activists, with the post mentioning, “we will sort out your housing.”

“Those looking for foreign interference in our elections need not look further than [the] LinkedIn post,” stated the letter from Trump campaign lawyer Gary Lawkowski. “The interference is happening right in front of us.”

Mr Trump’s lawyers argue that such support breaches US campaign finance laws by constituting contributions from foreign entities and called for an “immediate investigation” into what they labeled as “blatant foreign interference” in the election.

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Starmer and Trump ‘established a good relationship’

The prime minister argued that the dispute would not harm his relationship with Mr Trump should the Republican candidate emerge victorious, affirming that they had “established a good relationship” during their dinner at Trump Tower together last month.

Sir Keir explained, “I spent time in New York with President Trump, had dinner with him, and my purpose in doing that was to make sure that between the two of us we established a good relationship, which we did, and we’re grateful for him for making the time for that dinner.

“We had a good, constructive discussion and of course, as prime minister of the United Kingdom I will work with whoever the American people return as their president in their elections, which are very close now.”

The tensions between the ruling Labour Party and potential future US president arise as the prime minister heads to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) on the Pacific island of Samoa, aiming to explore trade opportunities ahead of next week’s pivotal budget.

His team at Downing Street and the Treasury are finalizing what one insider described as an “unprecedented” budget to address a £40bn shortfall.

To address this deficit, the prime minister and Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who previously stated they had “no plans” to increase taxes beyond manifesto commitments, are now considering a mix of significant tax hikes and spending reductions.

With significant stakes at home and challenges for a prime minister facing controversies and dysfunction in Number 10, one former adviser questioned this week whether Sir Keir was dedicating too much attention to international affairs instead of focusing on domestic issues and redefining his goals with the public.

However, he and his team defended the prime minister’s decision to attend CHOGM ahead of the budget, asserting that such summits aid in reestablishing Britain’s global relationships and promoting trade.

One of his advisers highlighted the potential economic value of the 56 Commonwealth nations, estimated to reach $19.5trn (£15trn) by 2027, as markets worth exploring.

Yet, it is notable that leaders of major Commonwealth economies are absent from the summit.

G7 leader Justin Trudeau of Canada is not attending the event in Samoa, while India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa are in Kazan for a BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) summit hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin with 36 world leaders.

Pressure surrounding reparations issue

Furthermore, the prime minister faces pressure from some Labour MPs and Caribbean governments concerning reparations for countries impacted by slavery and colonialism.

While Sir Keir has indicated he will not engage in this discussion at the summit, it has gained traction on the agenda.

This week, the Commonwealth will select a new secretary-general, and all three candidates vying for the position have called for reparations for countries affected by slavery and colonialism.

As the first British prime minister to visit a Pacific island formally, the prime minister aims to showcase this opportunity as a “once-in-a-generation” chance to leverage the Commonwealth.

Amidst challenges at home with the budget and the potential future US president, establishing unity this week with traditional allies is crucial for him.