Trump's Scottish ties make US trade deal likely, Farage says

Donald Trump's Scottish roots and business interests mean he will put the UK 'at the front of the queue' for a trade deal with the United States, leader Nigel Farage has claimed.

Nigel Farage supported Donald Trump during the election campaign. Picture Jane Barlow

In a radio interview late last night, the former UKIP leader claimed he was a the “catalyst” for the president-elect’s shock victory and called the current US leader Barack Obama a “loathsome creature”.

Mr Farage, who is in the United States to celebrate Mr Trump’s victory over Hillary Clinton, made light of allegations of sexual assault against the US tycoon, encouraging the president-elect to “come and schmooze” Theresa May, but warning: “Don’t touch her, for goodness sake”. Mr Trump denies the claims against him.

Speaking on talkRADIO, Mr Farage said: “I’m the catalyst for the downfall of the Blairites, the Clintonites, the Bushites, and all these dreadful people working hand in glove with Goldman Sachs and all the others, who have made themselves rich and ruined our countries. I couldn’t be happier.

That Obama creature - loathsome individual - he couldn’t stand our country, said we’d be at the back of the queue.

Mr Farage added: “What was interesting was that Trump said we’d be at the front of the queue. However imperfect Donald Trump may be, and my goodness me, he is, his mother was Scottish, he owns Turnberry, he spends a lot of time in our country.

“He loves our country, what we stand for, and our culture, and this is a big opportunity for all British business, because once we’ve left that awful EU thing, we can now do our first free trade deal with the USA.”

Amid speculation he could join Mr Trump’s government as an advisor on Europe, Mr Farage joked that he was “going to become a diplomat”, but later admitted it was “not going to happen”.

He said: “Come and schmooze Theresa. Don’t touch her, for goodness sake. If it comes to it I could be there as the responsible adult to make sure everything’s OK.” Mr Farage added: “Trump actually hates the EU more than I do.”

Amid concern that the US election result would embolden the far right in France, Germany and the Netherlands ahead of elections over the next 12 months, Mr Farage said “the wagons roll on to the rest of Europe”.

“This is a really exciting time,” he added. “For someone who has now become a demolition expert, I am thoroughly enjoying what is going on.”

The BBC has defended a decision to invite the French National Front leader Marine Le Pen to appear on the Andrew Marr Show this Sunday.

Programme editor Rob Burley tweeted that she was a “serious contender for the French Presidency whatever you think of her views”.

Polling puts support for Mrs Le Pen at around 45%, which would guarantee her a place in next year’s presidential runoff.