Nigel Farage makes extraordinary pitch to become UK's official link to Donald Trump
The President-elect has contradicted Downing Street, saying the Ukip politician would make a ‘great’ ambassador to the US
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Nigel Farage has made an extraordinary pitch for a role helping build relations with Donald Trump, after the President-elect broke diplomatic convention to suggest the Ukip politician be the UK’s new US ambassador.
Mr Farage told Downing Street to accept him because “the world has changed” and then chided Number 10 for being “negative” about his involvement.
After Mr Trump’s intervention, which will be deeply uncomfortable for Theresa May, the Ukip MEP said it was time Number 10 accepted he was “in a good position” to help.
Ms May’s officials have consistently dismissed the idea of Mr Farage’s involvement, arguing that the Prime Minister and future president would have a Reagan/Thatcher-style connection in which there is no “third person”.
But writing for the right-wing Breitbart website, Mr Farage said: “I have said since the now famous photograph with Donald Trump ten days ago that I would do anything to help our national interest and to help cement ties with the incoming Anglophile administration.
“At every stage I am greeted by negative comments coming out of Downing Street. The dislike of me, UKIP, and the referendum result is more important to them than what could be good for our country.
“I have known several of the Trump team for years and I am in a good position with the President-elect’s support to help. The world has changed and its [sic] time that Downing Street did too.”
Mr Farage said Mr Trump’s tweet, suggesting him for the post of the UK’s US ambassador, came like a “bolt from the blue”, but that it was less of a surprise because the President-elect supports those who “stand by him”.
Turning his guns on Ms May, he said: “It is called trust and it is how the whole world of business operates. Sadly, the cesspit that is career politics understands nothing of this. In their world the concept of trust is transitory.
“The political revolution of 2016 now sees a new order in charge of Washington. In the United Kingdom the people have spoken but the players at the top have, I am afraid, stayed the same.
“Those who supported Remain now hold senior positions. Worst still, those who were openly abusive about Trump now pretend to be his friend.”
Both Ms May, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and other senior Tories had made disparaging comments about Mr Trump during the election campaign.
But since the shock win by the US millionaire, Ms May has been criticised in the UK for her welcoming words to the President-elect, while Mr Johnson sparked an EU row by telling European leaders to stop their “whinge-o-rama” over Mr Trump’s victory.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments