Kemi Badenoch criticises Starmer’s ‘student politics’ as Trump row explodes
The IndependentSign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Tory leadership frontrunner Kemi Badenoch has launched a blistering attack on Keir Starmer’s “lack of statesmanship” as the transatlantic row between Labour and Donald Trump continued to blow up. Trump’s team have filed a legal complaint about Labour alleging election interference The complaint also cited a now-deleted LinkedIn post from Sofia Patel, head of operations at the Labour Party, who wrote that “nearly 100” current and former Labour Party staff would be travelling to the US to help elect Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. If they behaved as statesmen, if they had been statesman-like and measured in their comments, then the actions of 100 or so Labour activists would not look so problematic.” Ms Badenoch has been endorsed in her bid for the Tory leadership by former Republican presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, and Australia’s former prime minister Tony Abbott, while there has been a long tradition of Tories as well as Labour activists going to the US and other western countries to campaign. It is worse, because of what Labour have been saying about our allies in the United States, they have not been statesmen-like or diplomatic.” Ms Badenoch has said she will not endorse a candidate herself in this US election but expressed her admiration for Mr Trump, not least for his political stunt this week working in a McDonald’s, the restaurant chain which gave the Tory leadership hopeful her first job.