A former Labour adviser has accused Nigel Farage of “playing games” with his offer to help the new US ambassador Lord Mandelson build bridges with Donald Trump.
James Matthewson told GB News that Farage’s proposal to act as an intermediary was not genuine.
“Nigel Farage is playing games. He’s not offering help with the genuine hope of trying to get a Labour government to have a good relationship with Donald Trump or Elon Musk,” Matthewson said.
“He wants the Labour government to fail.”
James Matthewson said Farage is ‘playing a game’
PA / GB NEWS
The Reform UK leader and MP for Clacton has offered to help Lord Mandelson win over both Donald Trump and Elon Musk as Britain’s new ambassador to the US.
“Our relationship with the USA is by far our most important. If it helped the national interest I would be happy to act as a bridge,” Farage told The Telegraph.
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The offer comes as Lord Mandelson prepares to take up his role as US ambassador under Sir Keir Starmer’s government.
Lord Mandelson had previously signalled his willingness to work with Farage when he was favourite for the ambassador role.
Matthewson joined Bev Turner on GB News
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Speaking on his Times podcast last month, he urged: “Swallow your pride, find out who his friends are and try to get into those networks. You cannot just continue this feud indefinitely.”
The Labour grandee specifically mentioned engaging with Farage, stating: “You can’t ignore him. He’s an elected MP.”
He also suggested identifying Elon Musk’s “other British friends” to build diplomatic bridges.
Trump’s campaign chief Chris LaCivita has already branded Lord Mandelson a “moron” after past comments surfaced where the Labour grandee had called Trump a “white supremacist”.
Lord Mandelson has been picked as the UK’s new ambassador to the United StatesPAThe move to work with Farage has sparked concerns within Labour ranks.
Lord Blunkett warned against the strategy, telling The Telegraph: “Seeking to influence Donald Trump from anyone or anywhere in the UK is likely to be doomed to failure but also to elevate individuals and causes – to which many of us are deeply opposed – to a position of authority which they don’t warrant.”
Matthewson acknowledged the challenges facing Labour in dealing with Trump’s administration, noting that “you’re going to struggle to find anyone in the Labour Party who hasn’t insulted or at least criticised Donald Trump”.
However, he backed Mandelson’s diplomatic approach, describing him as “a very, very effective operator”.
“I think Peter Mandelson is right to invite him in and get him on board and see what he can do to broker the relationship,” Matthewson told GB News.
“Don’t forget this is a left-wing government, it is the opposite of what Donald Trump and Nigel Farage is.”
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