Nigel Farage couldn’t hide his discomfort during a painfully awkward BBC Newsnight interview, where he claimed that incoming US president Donald Trump would “love” him to become the UK ambassador to Washington. Despite his protestations of “no, no, no,” the squirming Reform UK leader didn’t quite manage to bat away suggestions he secretly wants the gig.
Farage, ever eager to remind everyone of his very close friendship with Trump, insisted he wasn’t gunning for the role. But his repeated boasts about his connections to Trump and his incoming Cabinet raised eyebrows. He even offered himself as a “bridge” between Labour and the Republicans—an offer swiftly rejected by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the PM isn’t keen on Farage playing diplomat.
During the interview, Farage took a swing at the government over its decision to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, a move that has ruffled feathers in Washington. He warned that the deal could jeopardise the UK’s “vital” military alliance with the US, particularly the key base on Diego Garcia, the largest island in the archipelago. “Let’s be frank,” Farage said, with a touch of his signature bravado. “We get more out of it than they do. It’s a very, very good deal for us.”
When Victoria Derbyshire pressed him on whether his critique was part of an elaborate audition for the ambassador role, Farage squirmed. “Well, it’s not going to happen, is it?” he said, before adding, “No, no, no, I am not going to be the ambassador, even though Trump would love it. That’s a decision for the incoming Labour government.”
He then tried to sound statesmanlike: “What I want to do—I’ve said this to Labour—is to act in the national interest if I can. Not just Trump, but half his Cabinet are my friends. If I can help, I will.” It was a curious pitch, given his disdain for almost everything Labour stands for.
Meanwhile, the UK government is scrambling to justify its decision on the Chagos Islands amid criticism from Trump’s team. Marco Rubio, Trump’s pick for secretary of state, has already called the move a “serious threat” to US national security, accusing Mauritius of being too cosy with China.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy tried to calm things down, telling MPs that the deal was in everyone’s best interests. “The agencies, the State Department, the Pentagon—they all think this is a good deal,” he said. “Despite the politicking, this secures the future of Diego Garcia as a critical military base.”
Under the agreement, the US-UK military presence on Diego Garcia is set to continue for 99 years, with an option to renew. It’s a deal the government struck to comply with an International Court of Justice ruling declaring the UK’s administration of the territory “unlawful.”
For now, Dame Karen Pierce remains the UK’s ambassador to Washington. But rumours are flying about who might replace her, with names like Peter Mandelson, David Miliband, and Valerie Amos in the mix. As for Farage? It seems he’ll just have to settle for his role as Trump’s mate, rather than Britain’s man in Washington.
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