Donald Trump and Nigel Farage on LBC: Downing Street hits back after US President blasts Brexit deal

Downing Street has defended its Brexit deal in the face of fresh criticism from US president Donald Trump.

Mr Trump, in an LBC interview with Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage, said Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s divorce agreement with the EU would hinder US trade with the UK.

“This deal,” he said, “under certain aspects of the deal... you can't do it, you can't do it, you can't trade.”

But Number 10 hit back, with a spokesman saying the agreement "ensures that we take back control of our laws, trade, borders and money".

Nigel Farage said he would be 'right behind' the PM if he dropped his Brexit deal 
Getty Images

"Under this new deal,” the spokesman said, “the whole of the UK will leave the EU customs union, which means we can strike our own free trade deals around the world from which every part of the UK will benefit.”

Mr Trump hailed Mr Johnson as the "right guy for the times" despite his criticism of the Brexit deal.

The US president, who was also an outspoken critic of Theresa May's Brexit attempts, called for the new Prime Minister and Brexit Party leader to “get together” and form a pact for the general election on December 12, calling them "two brilliant people".

Mr Trump said: "I would like to see you [Mr Farage] and Boris get together because you would really have some numbers, because you did fantastically in the election, the last election.”

President Trump called for Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage, Brexit Party leader, to form an election pact
AP

"He [Mr Johnson] has a lot of respect and like for you. I just wish you two guys could get together - I think it would be a great thing."

Mr Farage replied: "Well I tell you what, if he drops this dreadful [Brexit] deal, fights the general election on the basis that we just want to have trade with Europe but no political influence, do you know what? I would be right behind him."

Mr Trump added: "When you are the president of the United States you have great relationships with many of the leaders, including Boris, he's a fantastic man, and I think he's the exact right guy for the times.

"And I know that you and him will end up doing something that could be terrific if you and he get together as, you know, an unstoppable force."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has repeatedly ruled out an election pact with the Brexit Party
AFP via Getty Images

Talking about Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, the president added: "Corbyn would be so bad for your country, he'd be so bad, he'd take you on such a bad way. He'd take you into such bad places."

In a tweet, Mr Corbyn said: "Donald Trump is trying to interfere in Britain's election to get his friend Boris Johnson elected."

Mr Farage has refused to rule out the prospect of the Brexit Party withdrawing hundreds of election candidates in order to target a small number of Labour-held seats, saying that his strategy would become clear on Friday.

Asked if he was ruling out standing down hundreds of candidates, the party’s leader said: "I've ruled nothing in, I've ruled nothing out. I am making a completely neutral comment ahead of our launch tomorrow."

The remarks follow a report in the Daily Telegraph stating the party was considering slashing the number of would-be MPs it fields in the election in order to concentrate resources on 20 to 40 Labour seats in Leave areas.

The Prime Minister has repeatedly ruled out an election pact with the Brexit Party.

Some senior Tories fear that Mr Farage's Brexit Party could peel away enough traditional Conservative voters in tight races to allow the opposition to take the seat.

Meanwhile, Tory MP David Mundell told BBC's Newsnight that people in Scotland "take Donald Trump's interventions in any matter with a pinch of salt", adding: "Mr Trump is the sort of character who as we know makes colourful comments.

"He's said many different things about a possible trade deal."

Meanwhile, former Tory MP Antoinette Sandbach has joined the Liberal Democrats, bringing their number of MPs to 20.

She will contest her Cheshire seat of Eddisbury as the Lib Dem candidate, the party said.

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