Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has downplayed concerns about alleged Labour Party involvement in the U.S. presidential election, following a complaint from Donald Trump’s campaign. The complaint, filed with the Federal Election Commission, accuses Labour of “blatant foreign interference,” pointing to volunteers from the UK heading to the U.S. to campaign for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
Starmer clarified that the individuals involved were Labour staffers volunteering in their personal capacity and not receiving any compensation, which is permitted under U.S. law. Labour Party sources insist that no wrongdoing occurred, with volunteers paying for their own travel and accommodation or staying with fellow volunteers.
The controversy stemmed from a now-deleted LinkedIn post by Labour’s head of operations, Sofia Patel, who mentioned 100 current and former Labour staff going to the U.S. to support Harris’s campaign, leading to the Trump campaign’s complaint. Despite the issue, Starmer emphasized that his relationship with Trump remains intact, referencing a “constructive” dinner they had at Trump Tower in New York.
Labour officials, including Defence Secretary John Healey, characterized the Trump campaign’s reaction as typical election-time controversy. Both Starmer and other Labour officials reiterated that their government would work with whichever candidate wins the U.S. election, maintaining the UK’s “special relationship” with the U.S.