The Labour Party is competing with Lord Cameron to curry favour with Donald Trump and his inner circle, as diplomats ramp up efforts to engage with the former president ahead of the US election .

David Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary, has held meetings with a series of “Trump world” figures in recent months, in the hope of smoothing relations between Mr Trump and Sir Keir Starmer , if both win office later this year.

It comes as Trump insiders have claimed Britain is working harder than any other country to woo the former president. An unnamed British diplomat is said to have repeatedly visited Mar-a-Lago, his home in Florida, and dined with Mr Trump, US media reported.

Lord Cameron also met Mr Trump at Mar-a-Lago on a visit to the US earlier this month and has dispatched officials from the British embassy in Washington DC to attend his campaign events and connect with his advisers.

Foreign Office insiders have expressed frustration that too little was done to engage with the Republican candidate before he won the 2016 election.