Sir Keir Starmer insisted yesterday he didn’t need to explain to Donald Trump why Labour MPs and activists are campaigning against him in the US election.
The Prime Minister is trying to contain the row after it emerged 100 party supporters were helping Mr Trump’s Democrat rival Kamala Harris.
Mr Trump’s team has filed an official complaint with federal election authorities, accusing Labour of making ‘illegal foreign national contributions’.
There has also been anger that senior Labour figures went to the Democratic National Convention in August and met Ms Harris’s aides.
Among those who attended were Morgan McSweeney, who has since become the PM’s chief of staff, and director of communications Matthew Doyle.
Sir Keir Starmer is trying to contain the row after it emerged 100 party supporters were helping Kamala Harris
Mr Trump’s team has filed an official complaint, accusing Labour of making ‘illegal foreign national contributions’
Morgan McSweeney (pictured), the PM’s chief of staff, was among those who travelled to the US
Labour picked up the tab when Mr McSweeney, who was previously the Prime Minister’s political strategist, attended the event.
The party denied he advised Ms Harris’s team, which would potentially break US electoral law.
It is not illegal for foreign nationals to serve as campaign volunteers in US elections as long as they are not compensated.
In interviews at the Commonwealth summit in Samoa, Sir Keir tried to gloss over fears that the spat could derail Britain’s ‘special relationship’ with America if Mr Trump wins.
He pointed out that volunteers from parties have gone to help in the US in ‘every previous election’.
Sir Keir told Sky News: ‘I met President Trump just a few weeks ago in New York, we had dinner together for two hours.
‘We wanted to make sure we get to know each other.
‘The fact that a few Labour volunteers went in this election, as they have done in every previous election, in previous elections, as political activists from all political parties in pretty much every election year after year after year, needs to be put into its proper perspective.’
Sir Keir tried to downplay fears that the row could affect Britain’s relationship with America if Mr Trump wins
Pressed on whether he would raise it with Mr Trump, Sir Keir said: ‘No. I’ve got a good relationship with President Trump. I will I’ll work with whoever is elected.’
n Chinese hackers have targeted mobile phones used by Donald Trump, JD Vance and several Democrats, sources have said.
An FBI statement did not confirm names, but US officials suspect it is part of a larger cyber-espionage campaign launched by China, which has denied it.
