Exclusive
LEAN ON ME
I have Donald Trump’s team on speed dial, let me help, says Nigel Farage in message to Keir Starmer
The Reform Party boss reveals all about his secret talks to help No10 with the White House
NIGEL Farage today reveals he has spoken to Keir Starmer’s government about helping them schmooze Donald Trump - as he declares he has the new US regime “on speed dial”.
The Reform UK party boss said he made the offer to act as a go-between in “the national interest” and in one to one talks with “senior members” of the Labour government.
7
7
7
Mr Farage said his message to the PM: “If you need help, I'll give it.”
Speaking just hours before he boarded a plane to attend tomorrow’s star-studded inauguration, Mr Farage said having Trump in the White House will be "fantastic" because he adores our country.
While The Don and Sir Keir are “not going to be mates” because they are “not natural bedfellows" they can still get a lot done, he insisted.
But he suggested the Labour PM and his new ambassador Peter Mandelson will need a little help bashing down the door to the Oval Office.
READ MORE ON DONALD TRUMP
Mr Farage said: “Let's be frank, there are lots of members of [Trump’s] incoming Cabinet that I know very well. Some are genuine friends on speed dial.
“It is in our national interest in terms of intelligence, defense, economics and trade, that we have a great relationship with America.
“If I was able - behind the scenes - to help with that I would, even though it's a Labour government. Because it is in the national interest.”
Donald Trump will be sworn in as US President for the second time tomorrow - ushering in a new era in global politics.
Most read in Politics
The world is waiting with bated breath to see if he follows through with threats to impose crippling trade tariffs and force Nato countries to ramp up defence spending.
Mr Farage said Sir Keir came within a whisker of wrecking the relationship with the Trump White House before it even began by threatening to sign over the Chagos islands.
America is falling in line - Trump 2.0 is going to be a different beast in 2025 , says infamous press sec Sean Spicer
“Had the Chagos Islands surrender gone through before the inauguration, I think the special relationship would have been fractured for the next four years”, he said.
“The Americans would have gone potty.”
The Chagos Islands include the US military base Diego Garcia.
But No10 has decided to wait to consult Trump - a decision Nigel hails as the “most amazing reprieve!”.
7
7
On trade, he reckons Britain can avoid tariffs and even sign new trade deals with the new regime.
“Of course, it's America First, as it should be, but it's a very anglophile cabinet that gives us amazing opportunities", Mr Farage said.
“In terms of trade, not just to avoid tariffs, but actually to begin to negotiate some sectoral free trade agreements.”
But Britain will have to choose between cosying up to the EU or inking new deals with the Yanks, he warned.
On defence, the incoming US President has ordered Nato countries to start coughing up hard cash if they want to benefit from America’s military might.
Throwing down the gauntlet to miserly European countries, Trump has suggested they ramp up military spending to 5 per cent of their GDP.
Nigel reckons the US President will be happy with 3 per cent.
Channelling his pal the new President, he said: “If he says 5 per cent and we say 3 he will say ‘Great Deal’.”
Laughing he adds: “That's what he does - it's a negotiation. He asks for the moon. It's like buying a carpet in Morocco, you sort of start at different ends."
Britain currently spends 2.3 per cent and has promised to “set a path” to 2.5 per cent.
Talking of defence, Nigel also predicts that Trump will broker a peace deal in Ukraine this year.
And he suggests that Ukraine should be allowed to join Nato - a big shift in policy for the Reform Party boss.
“Every fibre in my being up until this moment in time said no. But now it's one of the key components to ending this war. So they have to.”
While Nigel is close pals with Trump, his relationship with Elon Musk has turned rocky.
The tech billionaire went from dangling a possible 100 million dollar donation in front of Nigel to calling for him to be replaced as Reform party leader within days.
Laughing off the row with his famous yawning grin, Nigel said: “Elon has a habit of saying what he thinks in the moment.
“I mean, he thought Trump should retire a few months ago. So I'm not worried about that.”
He said the pair have talked and are fine, but different views on Tommy Robinson and insisted he wont change his mind, declaring "I'm not a follower, I'm a leader.”
Back home in Britain, Nigel and his Reform Party are enjoying a surge in popularity.
They have leapfrogged the Tories into second place and are just 1 point behind Labour, according to the latest YouGov survey.
Another poll puts the three parties neck and neck.
When I arrive to meet Mr Farage at his party HQ in Westminster, his team are gathered around the telly watching Kemi Badenoch give her first big speech as party leader.
One staffer dashes up to me waving his mobile phone where he is watching the speech on Facebook live - along with just 25 other people.
“The viewing figures are a joke", he scoffs.
So, what does Nigel make of Kemi?
“I will attempt to be civil to Kemi, she will be uncivil to me. That is how she is - very aggressive”.
Reform has set up a defections unit to welcome disillusioned Tories and Labour politicians.
There are rumours Suella Braverman - the Tory MP and ex Home Secretary - could be next.
Nigel says he has not tried to lure her over but mischievously points out they are close politically and her husband has joined Reform.
7
7
“Had I been a Conservative Member of Parliament, I would have voted for her as leader. No question”, he says. “But she must do what she wants to do…"
Talk that Reform could merge with the Tories or do an electoral pact is quickly shot down.
“Why would I want to?” Nigel says. “We are on the way up and they are on the way down.”
Inspired by his pal across the Pond there is just one thing Nigel is eyeing up - the keys to No10.
And he reckons the TikTok generation are going to get him there.
“Step one is getting the following on TikTok…we’ve achieved that”, Nigel explains.
Step two is to get this army of 20-somethings to register to vote.
This could unleash a political tidal wave that could sweep Nigel into power, his team believe.
It has whiffs of Jeremy Corbyn’s 2017 campaign, Nigel admits.
Although he points out his fans are not young university toffs, but young blokes wanting to work hard and do well.
It is this Thatcherite spirit (Nigel was a City trader in London’s 1980s heyday) that Reform wants to unleash again.
“Making money is good. Doing well is good”, Mr Farage declares.
"We need to capture that spirit."
Over in the US, Mr Trump is getting ready to take the oath of Office as the world watches and waits to see what he will do next.
Mr Farage says a similar “historic reshaping” is happening in British politics which could make him PM in four years.
“History says there is no way Reform can win the next election, the feeling out there in this country says to me that we can”, he says.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
“There is a great big gap in the market. We want to fill it with optimism - to make people think we can actually - shall I say Make Britain Great Again.
“Trump has done it in America, can we do it here? Yes!”
What does Donald Trump's presidency mean for trade, defence and the chances of world peace
The world is waiting with bated breath to see what Donald Trump means for their trade and defence - here are some of the possible policy implications of his presidency:
Defence:
NATO countries have been told to spend more on defence or risk losing America’s military help.
Britain spends 2.3 per cent of GDP on defence and has promised to “set a path” to 2.5per cent.
But Rachel Reeves is under massive pressure to find billions more for the defence budget to keep Donald Trump happy - despite strains on the public finances.
Tariffs:
Donald Trump has threatened to impose crippling tariffs up up to 25 per cent on foreign imports into the US.
This would be a nightmare for the UK economy, which is already flatlining and is highly reliant on international trade.
PM Keir Starmer is planning an all-out charm offensive to persuade the US President not to hit the UK with the levies.
Chagos:
The controversial deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius has been paused by No10 so Donald Trump can have his say.
The strategic islands include the US-UK military base of Diego Garcia and many of Trump’s closest allies - including Marco Rubio - have warned the handover will imperil security and boost China.
Ukraine:
Donald Trump has grown angry at the billions America is spending helping Ukraine and has vowed to stop the war in “24 hours”.
He is expected to get Volodymyr Zelensky to sign a peace deal - even if it means losing territory.
Britain, France and other NATO countries could send peacekeeping troops into Ukraine to police a deal.
Middle East:
The Gaza ceasefire was signed just days before Donald Trump enters the White House after he threatened to “unleash hell” on Hamas unless they released the hostages.
The US President will keep the pressure on Israel and Hamas to stick to the deal and see all 94 hostages - including Brit Emily Damari - released after their nightmare ordeal.
Some 34 of the hostages are believed to have been killed in captivity. Their bodies will be released.
Topics