Nigel Farage warns UK politicians it is a ‘great mistake’ for them to demonise Donald Trump

Nigel Farage has warned UK politicians not to demonise Donald Trump as he claimed it would be a ‘great mistake’ to alienate the US President who is set to visit Britain for a Nato summit. 

Mr Trump will jet into the UK this evening for a two-day meeting in London and political parties are braced for a potential bombshell intervention in the election campaign. 

Mr Trump remains a divisive figure in British politics and last night Mr Farage defended his ally as the Brexit Party leader took part in a seven-way TV election debate hosted by ITV. 

Mr Farage came to Mr Trump’s defence after Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson said that while the special relationship is important she did not believe Mr Trump shared British values. 

Pointing to previous comments made by the US President about sexually assaulting women, Ms Swinson added: ‘The last thing we should have done is to roll out the red carpet for a state visit.’

Mr Trump, pictured in Washington on November 26, is due to arrive in the UK tonight for a two-day Nato summit

But Mr Farage, who interviewed Mr Trump on his LBC radio show at the end of October, said that while some of the US President’s comments were wrong, it was essential to consider the national interest in maintaining links with the US. 

He said: ‘It was crass and it was crude and it was wrong – men say dreadful things sometimes.

‘If all of us were called out for what we did on a night out after a drink, none of us would…’

At that point he was interrupted by Ms Swinson who said: ‘Is that what you do on a night out after a drink?’

Mr Farage replied: ‘He is President of the USA and that relationship matters.

‘You are so anti-American you are prepared to put your hatred of Trump above our national interest. That is a great mistake.’  

Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price said Mr Farage was wrong to defend the US President.

Mr Farage clashed with Jo Swinson (pictured right) over how the UK should treat Mr Trump

Nato leaders are due to meet at The Grove hotel near Watford on Wednesday for a day of talks

The conference is being hosted by Boris Johnson and Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg

He said: ‘It can never be acceptable for a man to talk about grabbing a woman’s p***y. If you think it is you should be ashamed of yourself.’

Meanwhile, Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon claimed Boris Johnson was trying to pursue the same ‘strong man’ tactics of the US president.

She said: ‘Donald Trump’s attitudes are wrong and they are dangerous. In Boris Johnson we have got somebody who is trying to be like him.’

But Tory Chief Secretary to the Treasury Rishi Sunak said that the relationship with the US was essential to Britain’s national security and should not be denigrated.

‘The relationship we have with America is incredibly important for keeping us safe,’ he said.  

Mr Trump undertook a state visit to the UK between June 3-5 this year having visited for the first time as US President back in July 2018. 

His trip to London for the Nato leaders summit will be his third official visit to the UK during his time in the White House.