Tories: Donald Trump’s re-election brings problems for Labour

Conservative politicians believe that a return of Donald Trump to the White House would pose problems for the Labour government under Keir Starmer.

Sources in the party are convinced that the “thin-skinned” Republican candidate would take up previous comments by Secretary of State David Lammy.

As the US prepares for a close presidential election between Trump and the Democratic candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris, people in the UK are already thinking about what this might mean for British politics.

If the Democrats keep the White House, Labour would be expected to work closely with its sister party. However, a Trump victory would likely put the special relationship to the test, the Conservatives believe.

A senior Tory pointed to the harsh criticism Mr Lammy had levelled at the former President before he became Foreign Secretary.

In 2018, the Labour MP called President Trump a “misogynistic, neo-Nazi-sympathizing sociopath.”

The senior Tory said I: “Trump is thin-skinned, so any comments Lammy makes about Trump will be an issue, and for the rest of Starmer's cabinet. Labour is obviously hoping [Trump’s vice-president pick JD] Vance will be their entry point.

“God knows who their foreign minister will be – but I think we can expect trouble,” the MP added.

The frontbencher also warned that if the Republicans win in November, Nigel Farage could become an issue due to Trump's proximity to the leader of the Reform UK movement.

“The Trump approach will pose a challenge to the government and Farage will try to exploit it,” they said.

Earlier this year, a Trump ally told telegraph that “apart from Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson” there were “very few” British politicians with whom the former president agreed.

Lammy has sought to build relationships with members of the Trump camp and met this year with JD Vance, whom the Secretary of State described as a “friend.”

He downplayed the significance of his earlier comments about Trump, saying in July: “You'd be hard-pressed to find a politician who didn't have something to say about Donald Trump back then.”

Meanwhile, Elbridge Colby, who is considered a candidate for the post of National Security Advisor in a Republican White House, said Lammy's vision was “more compatible with Trump” than that of former Secretary of State David Cameron.

He criticised Lord Cameron for “denigrating”, “moralising” and “lecturing” Republicans on aid to Ukraine.

Robert Jenrick, a leading candidate for the Tory leadership, has relationships with Republicans close to Trump.

In February, the former immigration secretary traveled to the United States and visited Texas' southern border with Mexico – a major concern for Republicans in light of the ongoing illegal border crossings by migrants.

In Washington DC, he met with a number of Trump-supporting senators to discuss issues such as Israel and support for Ukraine.

I assumes that a meeting with JD Vance was planned, but did not take place due to scheduling reasons.

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Mr Jenrick also gave a speech at the Heritage Foundation – the right-wing US think tank that has drawn up a plan for a second Trump administration called Project 2025.

An ally said Mr Jenrick had met a number of people who were “likely to be selected to serve in [Trump’s] In some form of administration.”

Mr Jenrick recently caused a stir when he stated in an interview that if he were an American citizen, he “would vote for Donald Trump”.

Some commentators say this comment could backfire if he becomes Tory leader, given widespread hostility towards the former president in Britain.

However, Jenrick's ally played down the significance of the admission. “He was asked a question and he gave an honest answer,” they said. “I wouldn't read too much into it.”

While a Republican victory would pose a challenge to the Labour Party, there are also concerns within the Tories about what a Harris victory could mean for them.