Official statements from the Labour Party or major news outlets

Trump Files FEC Complaint Alleging 'Blatant Foreign Interference' Over UK Labour's 100 Staffers Campaigning for Harris

Oct 22, 2024, 07:49 PM

The UK's governing Labour Party is reportedly sending nearly 100 current and former party staff members to the United States to campaign for Vice President Kamala Harris in key battleground states ahead of the upcoming presidential election. The initiative, organized by Sofia Patel, Labour’s head of operations, plans to deploy activists to swing states including Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The move has sparked criticism and accusations of foreign election interference from Republican politicians and supporters of former President Donald Trump. Nigel Farage has accused Labour of 'direct interference' in the US election. Trump’s campaign has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), alleging 'blatant foreign interference' and 'illegal foreign campaign contributions' by the Labour Party and Harris's campaign. Labour officials have stated that the staff are volunteering their time and are not being paid, asserting that such activities are standard practice and permissible under US law as long as volunteers are not compensated. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has dismissed Trump's claims, insisting that his relationship with Trump is not jeopardized and that the officials advising Harris's campaign are volunteers. The issue has gained significant media attention, with discussions about the legality and propriety of foreign nationals participating in US election campaigns.