Starmer’s government has faced questions on the row all day.
Labour has pushed back, stressing that it is not funding the activist’s travel or accommodation, meaning any efforts remain within strict U.S. federal election rules which stipulate foreign volunteers can’t spend more than $1,000 helping candidates. The U.K. prime minister has denied that the row will dent relations with Trump should he triumph next month.
But the plea to the FEC has been swiftly seized on by Trump’s supporters in the U.K.
Farage, who heads up the populist, right-wing Reform UK party snapping at Labour’s heels in key seats, said Starmer had made “a terrible decision” in allowing the activists to head stateside.
Farage has campaigned extensively for Trump, appearing at rallies and even interviewing the U.S. hopeful on his GB News show. But British allies of Trump drew a distinction between the actions of an opposition politician and the governing party.
Greg Swenson, chair of Republicans Overseas UK, said it was “uncool” for Labour volunteers to campaign on Harris’ behalf, and branded the move “a mistake.”