Donald Trump campaign files complaint against Labour over election 'interference' claim

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Donald Trump’s presidential campaign has filed a complaint against Labour over “interference” in the US election. The complaint to the Federal Election Commission in the US is against Labour and Kamala Harris’ US election campaign for “making and accepting illegal foreign national contributions”.

It refers to media reporting regarding meetings between Labour officials and the Harris campaign and people connected to Labour volunteering for the Democrat campaign. Labour leader Keir Starmer denied that Labour involvement could harm his relationship with Trump should be win the presidential election next month.

A statement on DonaldJTrump.com claimed that “far-left” Labour has “inspired Kamala’s dangerously liberal policies and rhetoric”.

The statement said: “The Trump-Vance Campaign has filed a Federal Election Commission (FEC) complaint against the Harris-Walz Campaign and the Labour Party of the United Kingdom for illegal foreign campaign contributions and interference in our elections”.

The linked complaint addressed to the Federal Election Commission refers to reports by The Telegraph newspaper with regards to people associated with Labour going to the US to campaign for Kamala Harris. It claims that the Harris campaign has "accepted, illegal foreign national contributions”.

The letter also refers to a report in the Washington Post which claims that advice has been offered between Labour Party strategists and Ms Harris’ campaign. Those referenced in the letter include Matthew Doyle, the director of communications, and Morgan McSweeney, the Prime Minister’s chief of staff.

The letter refers to a “volunteer exemption” in US elections which means foreign nationals can volunteer. But the letter states “they may not be compensated, foreign nationals may not make expenditures, and they may not direct or control activities of US campaigns”.

It is understood that volunteer trips have been organised in a personal capacity and accommodation has been arranged by volunteers for the Democrats. Volunteers are understood to have gone to the US in their own time.

Sir Keir Starmer met with Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, during a trip to New York last month. The Prime Minister visited Trump Tower for talks ahead of the US election, and said he wanted to meet Trump face-to-face because “I’m a great believer in personal relationships on the world stage”.

Asked if it was a mistake for senior staffers to have met with the Harris campaign, Sir Keir insisted any members of his party were in the US on an entirely voluntary basis, similar to in previous elections.

“That’s what they’ve done in previous elections, is what they’re doing in this election. And that’s really straightforward,” he told reporters as he travelled to Samoa for a meeting of Commonwealth leaders.

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Pressed further about whether Labour officials’ involvement in the Harris-Waltz Democrat campaign could jeopardise his relationship with Trump if the ex-president wins re-election, Sir Keir replied: “No.”

He added: “I spent time in New York with President Trump, had dinner with him, and my purpose in doing that was to make sure that between the two of us we established a good relationship, which we did, and I was very grateful to him for making the time.”

After describing the meeting as a “good, constructive discussion”, Sir Keir added: “Of course as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, I will work with whoever the American people return as their president in the elections that are very close now.”

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