Nigel Farage has described outgoing US President Barack Obama as a “creature” and a “loathsome individual” as he suggested Donald Trump would boost ties between America and UK.
The Ukip leader joked that he would encourage his ally Mr Trump to come to the UK to meet Prime Minister Theresa May but not to “touch her” – a reference to the lewd comments about women made by the US president-elect and the allegations of sexual assault which dogged his campaign.
“For us in the UK the opportunities are really clear,” the Ukip leader told TalkRadio. “That Obama creature, loathsome individual who couldn’t stand our country and said we would be at the back of the queue … What was interesting was that Trump said we would be at the front of the queue.”
He added: “However imperfect Donald Trump may be, and my goodness me he is; his mother was Scottish, he owns Turnberry, he spends a lot of time in our country, he loves our country, what we stand for and our culture.
“This is a big opportunity for all British business, because we can now do – once we have left that awful EU thing – we can now do our first trade deal with the United States of America, isn’t that great.”
Mr Farage, who will soon travel to the United States and “hopefully” have talks with Mr Trump, said: “I will be encouraging him to make the UK his number one global priority.”
“I am going to say ‘Come and schmooze Theresa – don’t touch her, for goodness sake’,” he said.
“If it comes to it, I could be there as a responsible adult to make sure everything’s OK.”
Mr Farage, who said he was “open-minded” about working for the Trump administration, added: “If I can do anything, knowing Trump and knowing his campaign team, to try and make sure that Britain and America have the right relationship which will be good for business and good for the world, I will do everything I can to make sure that happens.”
Meanwhile, Ukip MEP William Dartmouth said the Prime Minister should appoint Mr Farage as her ambassador in Washington to take advantage of his links to Mr Trump.
“Nigel Farage already has good ties and a relationship with the US president-elect Donald Trump – much better than any one else in British public life,” the Ukip deputy chairman said,
“His appointment would materially assist the UK in getting a UK-USA Trade agreement for the first time.”