Ukip’s Nigel Farage is heading to the United States this weekend where he will probably become the first British politician to meet Donald Trump since his shock election victory.
A senior party insider told The Independent that Mr Farage would travel to the US after visiting Barcelona this week, heightening speculation that he may be about to take a role with Mr Trump.
During the presidential campaign the Ukip man was praised by Mr Trump at a rally, while the Republican President-elect and his allies have hailed Brexit during their campaign and borrowed the "take back control" slogan of the drive to quit the EU in which Mr Farage played a leading role.
Speaking this morning the Ukip interim leader said: "Today, the establishment is in deep shock. Even more so than after Brexit."
He added: "I commend Donald Trump for the courage with which he has fought this campaign and I look forward to a closer relationship between the US and the UK. We now have a president who likes our country and understands our post-Brexit values.
"Prepare for further political shocks in the years to come."
The party insider said Mr Farage would travel to Florida to give a speech and then on to New York. While a meeting with Mr Trump is not yet set in stone, Mr Farage will be seeing senior figures in Mr Trump's team and is likely to meet the President-elect.
Mr Farage was invited to attend a Trump rally in Jackson, Mississippi, on 25 August by the state's governor, Phil Bryant, and was invited on stage to address the crowd. The presidential candidate introduced him saying: "On 23 June, the people of Britain voted to declare their independence – which is what we're also looking to do, folks – from their international government."
Ukip's interim leader refused to directly endorse Mr Trump, but said: "I could not possibly tell you how to vote in this election, but, you know, I get it. If I was an American citizen, I wouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton if you paid me. In fact, I wouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton if she paid me."
Speaking in New York today, Trump-ally Sarah Palin underlined the link between Brexit and Mr Trump’s campaign, saying: "See, Great Britain, America, See how we're hookin' up now? We're going rogue and the people are going to take back control."
She added: "We've got to take care of what's going on here within our borders just like you all have done especially recently."
Asked whether he would accept a job under Mr Trump, Mr Farage told ITV's Agenda programme on Monday, "we'll just have to see". He then joked: "If he did offer me a job I would quite like to be his ambassador to the European Union. I think I would do that job very well. "
Then on LBC Radio he said: "Is he going to offer me a job? I'm hoping he might do."
