Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer would "be a fool" to not enlist the help of Nigel Farage in bridging UK-US relations with Donald Trump, ex-Tory MP Ann Widdecombe has claimed.
The Reform UK leader flew out to Florida to support his Republican friend as he was re-elected as the 47th President, beating Democrat rival Kamala Harris.
Speaking to GB News following the victory, Farage urged Starmer to "roll out the red carpet" for Trump ahead of UK-US trade talks, and claimed he will "help in any way he can" to aid the Labour government.
Noting his close relationship with the Trump administration, Farage stated: "I might have a role to play inhelping to break down those barriers. And if I can help in any way at all to break down some of these barriers, I'll do so."
Reacting to Farage's plea, Reform UK spokesperson Ann Widdecombe threw her support behind the Clacton MP and claimed he would prove "very useful" to Starmer in the coming months.
Widdecombe told GB News: "I think Starmer could use him very usefully behind the scenes. I don't think he should have a formal role like the ambassador, as he's the leader of Reform.
"He's an MP for Clacton, and that is what I think his main role should be. But because he does have excellent relations with Donald Trump, Starmer would be a fool not to tap into that. But I don't think he's going to be terribly keen."
Noting the current state of relations between Labour and Donald Trump, following David Lammy's previous comments about the President-elect, Widdecombe stated that it is "dangerous" of Starmer to declare Lammy's position will remain "for the entirety of his term".
Widdecombe fumed: "First of all, Lammy is stupid anyway. Apart from the things you said about Trump, I think having a foreign secretary in place who is incapable of coming up with those sorts of judgements is very, very dangerous.
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"You need you don't need abuse, you need diplomacy."
Offering further criticism of Lammy, Widdecombe added: "I don't think he's a good appointment anyway.
"But come on, you can't guarantee that anybody is still going to be there for years to come. No Prime minister can guarantee that."
Agreeing with Widdecombe, host Patrick Christys responded: "Literally anything can happen, right. It's a stupid thing and a silly corner for Starmer to back himself into."
Widdecombe then jibed: "He's a lawyer as well. You would think he would be a bit sharper than that."
Attending the European Political Community Summit in Budapest, Starmer recalled a recent meeting with Donald Trump before his election win and their "very positive" phone call following the victory.
Starmer said: "I had a very good meeting with President elect Trump a few weeks ago when we had dinner together in New York, and that was very positive, very constructive, as I think you know.
"And obviously, I had a phone call with him last night, again, very positive, very constructive."
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The Reform UK leader flew out to Florida to support his Republican friend as he was re-elected as the 47th President, beating Democrat rival Kamala Harris.
Speaking to GB News following the victory, Farage urged Starmer to "roll out the red carpet" for Trump ahead of UK-US trade talks, and claimed he will "help in any way he can" to aid the Labour government.
Noting his close relationship with the Trump administration, Farage stated: "I might have a role to play inhelping to break down those barriers. And if I can help in any way at all to break down some of these barriers, I'll do so."
Reacting to Farage's plea, Reform UK spokesperson Ann Widdecombe threw her support behind the Clacton MP and claimed he would prove "very useful" to Starmer in the coming months.
Widdecombe told GB News: "I think Starmer could use him very usefully behind the scenes. I don't think he should have a formal role like the ambassador, as he's the leader of Reform.
"He's an MP for Clacton, and that is what I think his main role should be. But because he does have excellent relations with Donald Trump, Starmer would be a fool not to tap into that. But I don't think he's going to be terribly keen."
Noting the current state of relations between Labour and Donald Trump, following David Lammy's previous comments about the President-elect, Widdecombe stated that it is "dangerous" of Starmer to declare Lammy's position will remain "for the entirety of his term".
Widdecombe fumed: "First of all, Lammy is stupid anyway. Apart from the things you said about Trump, I think having a foreign secretary in place who is incapable of coming up with those sorts of judgements is very, very dangerous.
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"You need you don't need abuse, you need diplomacy."
Offering further criticism of Lammy, Widdecombe added: "I don't think he's a good appointment anyway.
"But come on, you can't guarantee that anybody is still going to be there for years to come. No Prime minister can guarantee that."
Agreeing with Widdecombe, host Patrick Christys responded: "Literally anything can happen, right. It's a stupid thing and a silly corner for Starmer to back himself into."
Widdecombe then jibed: "He's a lawyer as well. You would think he would be a bit sharper than that."
Attending the European Political Community Summit in Budapest, Starmer recalled a recent meeting with Donald Trump before his election win and their "very positive" phone call following the victory.
Starmer said: "I had a very good meeting with President elect Trump a few weeks ago when we had dinner together in New York, and that was very positive, very constructive, as I think you know.
"And obviously, I had a phone call with him last night, again, very positive, very constructive."
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