Why has Donald Trump accused UK’s Labour Party of ‘foreign interference' in US election?

Donald Trump is yet again crying election interference.

The former US president, who himself is criminally charged with trying to interfere with the outcome of the 2020 election, has long made that phrase a rallying cry for his base.

Trump has accused judges, social media companies, Democratic politicians and prosecutors of election interference.

Now, Trump has turned the finger towards the UK’s Labour Party.

But why is the former president slamming the party currently ruling the US’ close ally? And how has the UK responded?

Let’s take a closer look:

What is the Trump team saying?

As per CNBC, Trump has accused the Labour Party of ‘foreign interference.’

The allegation comes after repor Labour Party volunteers travelled to the United States to campaign for his rival Kamala Harris.

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The campaign has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission in Washington demanding an inquiry into “apparent illegal foreign national contributions made by the Labour Party of the United Kingdom and accepted by Harris for President.”

The outlet said that the plaint cited reports in the media as well as a deleted LinkedIn post.

Follow all the latest developments on the US Presidential Elections here.

The article, put up by Sofia Patel, who heads the operations of Britain’s Labour Party, stated that “nearly 100” current and former Labour party staff would be heading to the UK to campaign for Harris.

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“Those searching for foreign interference in our elections need to look no further than [the] LinkedIn post,” the letter of complaint said. “The interference is occurring in plain sight.”

“When representatives of the British government previously sought to go door-to-door in America, it did not end well for them,” the letter stated.

“This past week marked the 243 anniversary of the surrender of British forces at the Battle of Yorktown, a military victory that ensured that the United States would be politically independent of Great Britian.”

The letter misspelled the name of the country.

It also makes reference to a Washington Post report which states that Labour has offered the Harris campaign advice on how to beat Trump.

Senior members of the Labour Party have also met senior staff in Harris’ campaign.

The letter singles out by name Matthew Doyle, Downing Street director of communications, and Morgan McSweeney, the prime minister’s chief of staff.

As per BBC, Deborah Mattinson, Starmer’s former director of strategy, was also on the list of names.

Mattinson is no longer employed by Labour.

The Labour Party in the UK sees the Democratic Party in America as its brethren, while the Tories in the UK feel the same about the Republican Party.

However, the two countries have a ‘special relationship’ no matter whom is in charge.

The LinkedIn post took much flak from Republicans and their allies.

Marjorie Taylor Greene, the far-right lawmaker, wrote on social media “foreign nationals are not allowed to be involved in anyway in US elections”.

Elon Musk, who has come out as a Trump backer, wrote on his platform X, “This is illegal.”

The South African-origin billionaire later deleted his post after a community note correcting his statement noted that foreigners are allowed to engage in unpaid door-knocking.

How has the UK government responded?

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has dismissed the controversy.

“The Labour party … volunteers, have gone over pretty much every election. They’re doing it in their spare time, they’re doing it as volunteers, they’re staying I think with other volunteers over there,” he was quoted as saying by The Guardian.

“That’s what they’ve done in previous elections, that’s what they’re doing in this election and that’s really straightforward.”

BBC quoted deputy prime minister Angela Rayner as saying “people in their own time often go on campaigns.”,

“It happens in all political parties” The Labour activists at the heart of this dispute were joining the Harris campaigning “in their own time with their own money,” Rayner added.

Environment Secretary Steve Reed told the outlet the trips were not funded or organised by the Labour Party.

“These are individuals and they’re there . . . at their own expense,” John Healey, Britain’s defence secretary, was quoted as saying by Financial Times. “It is very different to the determination of the Labour government to work with whoever the American people elect next month as their president.”

But others differed.

Emily Thornberry, Labour chair of the House of Commons foreign affairs committee, questioned the Labour activists’ efforts, told BBC: “I actually don’t think that British politicians going over to America and telling the Americans the way they should vote really helps.”

Far-right UK lawmaker Nigel Farage wrote on X, ““This is direct election interference by the governing Labour party, and particularly stupid if Trump wins. Who is paying for all of this?”

Starmer met Trump last month during his visit to New York City.

I’m a great believer in personal relationships on the world stage,” Starmer was quoted as saying by newspaper.

“We had a good, constructive discussion and, of course as prime minister of the United Kingdom I will work with whoever the American people return as their president in their elections, which are very close now,” Starmer was quoted as saying by Financial Times.

With inputs from agencies