Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has shrugged off claims from Donald Trump’s campaign accusing the Labour Party of meddling in the US presidential election. The allegations, lodged with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), centre around Labour volunteers supporting Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign, an issue Starmer has dismissed as routine.
Speaking to reporters while en route to Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit, Starmer downplayed the controversy.He explained that Labour volunteers have participated in previous US elections on their own time, with no official involvement from the party. “They’re doing it in their spare time. They’re staying with other volunteers over there,” he noted.
Despite the accusations, there is no substantial evidence to suggest that the Harris campaign coordinated with Labour members. So far, neither Labour nor the Harris campaign has issued an official response. Starmer, meanwhile, remains confident that the matter won’t escalate, stating, “That’s what they’ve done in previous elections, that’s what they’re doing in this election, and that’s really straightforward.”
Starmer also denied that the allegations would create any diplomatic friction with Trump, highlighting a recent dinner with the former president. He described the meeting as “constructive,” adding that he was committed to maintaining a good relationship with whoever the American people elect.
The Trump campaign has filed a formal complaint with the FEC, accusing Labour activists of illegal foreign involvement in Harris’s campaign. The complaint highlights reports that nearly 100 current and former Labour staffers had travelled to the US, citing a since-deleted social media post by Labour’s head of operations, Sofia Patel, who boasted about their efforts. The complaint called for an immediate investigation, describing these actions as “blatant foreign interference.”
Trump’s legal team drew historical comparisons, warning that British interference in American elections has not ended well in the past. The complaint also accused Labour of providing improper contributions to Harris’s campaign, though the UK party insists the volunteers are acting in a personal capacity. The Trump campaign argued that “the interference is occurring in plain sight,” referencing Patel’s LinkedIn post.
Leading Republicans, including Marjorie Taylor Greene, have criticised the alleged foreign involvement. Elon Musk briefly joined the outcry before deleting a social media post after realising that volunteering in US elections is legal, as long as there is no compensation.