Nigel Farage says Government 'petty' over his links with Donald Trump
The interim UKIP leader argues it could be against the national interest for his close ties to the Trump camp not to be used.
Sunday 27 November 2016 16:53, UK
Nigel Farage has accused the Government of being "petty" for not ringing him for a chat about forging links with US President-elect Donald trump.
The interim UKIP leader said it was "ridiculous" and "potentially against the national interest" for no one to have been in touch with him about using his close ties to the incoming White House administration.
Earlier this month, Mr Farage became the first British politician to meet Mr Trump since he won the presidential election.
Speaking ahead of returning to the US, Mr Farage also made a renewed defence of the Republican tycoon's outspoken style, admitting he could go "over the top".
But he also highlighted Mr Trump's unifying post-election message.
Mr Trump has previously said Mr Farage would "do a great job" as ambassador to the US, but to take advantage of his connections to the Trump camp.
A Number 10 spokesman said there would be no "third person" in the relationship.
But Mr Farage said: "I'm happy to help, formally or informally. I'm happy just to make an introduction.
"But I just think it's ridiculous, petty and potentially against the national interest for our Government not even to ring me up to have a chat with me, let alone ask me to make some introductions.
"It isn't just Trump, there are quite a few members of Trump's team, people now taking quite senior positions, that I have known and got on with for years."
Hosting a show on LBC Radio, he added: "Regardless of what Downing Street thinks, I'm going back to America at the end of this week.
"I'm going to meet all sorts of people and I shall say to them 'regardless of whether the Government uses me or not, please forgive some of the things that were said about your president during the election campaign, it's in both of our interests to get closer'."
Responding to criticism of Mr Trump's brash style, Mr Farage said: "He's talked about a country coming together, he's talked about being the president for all Americans regardless of their race or their background.
"Sometimes things get said in election campaigns that are bitter, heated and I think people are quite capable - Donald Trump himself - of, at times, going over the top."
But he said Mr Trump would be a "different president to perhaps what you saw with some of those platform speeches during the campaign".
Mr Farage has also claimed he cannot go out in public without security because of threats to his safety.
The new UKIP leader will be announced on Monday.