Britain building contacts with US President-elect Donald Trump: Theresa May's spokesman

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A spokesman for British Prime Minister Theresa May said that Britain is establishing ways of contacting US President-elect Donald Trump. PHOTO: AFP

LONDON (REUTERS) - Britain has established ways of contacting President-elect Donald Trump and is building contacts with him, a spokesman for Prime Minister Theresa May said on Monday (Nov 14) when asked about a US trip by Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage.

Farage met Trump on Saturday, the first British politician to visit the newly elected president of the United States, and suggested that he should become a "go-between" for the government and the US administration.

"We have established routes of engagement with the President-elect and his team. Our diplomatic staff have been building those contacts and links in the run up to the election," the spokesman said when asked whether the government would accept advice from Farage.

Repeatedly questioned about a possible role for Farage, the spokesman referred to a call between May and Trump on Thursday, in which Trump invited the British Prime Minister to visit him as soon as possible and underlined the importance of the US-British relationship.

"The President-elect talked about enjoying the same close relationship that Reagan and Thatcher did," the spokesman said referring to the close ties developed between ex-prime minister Thatcher and former-US President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s. "I don't remember there being a third person in that relationship," she said.

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