Donald Trump’s campaign has filed a Federal Election Commission (FEC) complaint against the UK’s Labour Party, accusing it of “blatant foreign interference” in the US election in aid of the Harris-Walz campaign.
The complaint cites media reports about contact between Labour and the Harris campaign as well as apparent volunteering efforts, arguing that this amounts to illegal “contributions”.
Labour activists are reported to be campaigning in the US presidential election in a personal capacity.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, has sought to play down the row – pointing out that Labour has long sent volunteers to US elections.
It is considered normal for party officials from the UK to be in contact with counterparts in the US. This has also taken place previously between Trump’s Republican Party and the UK’s Conservative Party.
The dispute appears to have begun with a LinkedIn post which asked for people to travel to the US and said nearly 100 were signed up to go.
The post, from Labour Party head of operations Sofia Patel, added that 10 “spots” are available and that “we will sort your housing”.
It appears to have since been deleted.
Screengrab of a LinkedIn post by Sofia Patel, head of operations at the UK Labour Party. Her post reads: “I have nearly 100 Labour Party staff (current and former) going to the US in the next few weeks heading to North Carolina, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Virginia. I have 10 spots available for anyone available to head to the battleground state of North Carolina – we will sort your housing.” The post goes on to share an email address and to urge readers to email Ms Patel if interested
The complaint also refers to Washington Post reporting that communications were exchanged between the parties and that senior officials have met in private.
The Trump campaign has also made comparisons with an international programme in 2016 in which the Australian Labor Party, or ALP, sent delegates to help with Bernie Sanders’ campaign.
In that instance, however, the ALP paid for flights and daily stipends. The party and the campaign were each handed down civil penalties of $14,500.
Activists’ trips by the UK Labour Party have not been organised or funded by the party, it is understood from party officials.
Foreign nationals are permitted to serve as campaign volunteers as long as they are not compensated, according to FEC rules.
A former Labour activist who volunteered for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign in 2008 called Trump’s allegations “nothing more than a political stunt”.
Matthew McGregor told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the most a foreign volunteer could receive was a bottle of water or some pretzels.
In reference to Patel’s offer to “sort” the housing of those who went on the trip, Mr McGregor said it was common for Democratic activists to offer their spare rooms or sofas to volunteers.
Speaking to the Today programme himself, one Trump ally said the suggestion of interference was more of a “perception problem than a legal one”. BBC
