UK Raps White House Over 'Ridiculous' Trump Spy Claims
LONDON (AFP) - The White House will not repeat claims that British spies snooped on Donald Trump, Britain said on Friday after the UK spy agency dismissed them as "utterly ridiculous" in a rare public denial.
Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman reiterated the GCHQ agency's denial of a report -- which had been repeated by the U.S. president's spokesman on Thursday -- and said the claims "should be ignored".
"We have made this clear to the administration and have received assurances that these allegations will not be repeated," the PM's spokesman said.
Britain's ambassador to Washington Kim Darroch spoke directly to White House press secretary Sean Spicer, although May's spokesman refused to say whether the U.S. administration had apologized.
"The fact is, within the Five Eyes pact, we cannot use each other's capabilities to circumvent our laws," May's spokesman said.
"It's a situation that simply wouldn't arise."
Britain and the United States -- along with Australia, Canada and New Zealand -- are part of the "Five Eyes" intelligence-sharing alliance forged from the embers of World War II.
"We have a close, special relationship with the White House and that allows us to raise concerns as and when they arise as was true in this case," he added.
Late on Thursday, a spokesman for GCHQ said: "Recent allegations made by media commentator Judge Andrew Napolitano about GCHQ being asked to conduct 'wiretapping' against the then-president elect are nonsense."
The press office of GCHQ --, the Government Communications Headquarters -- told AFP on Friday that it was "not unusual" for the agency to make public comment but acknowledged that "perhaps the tone of it was unusual".
The electronic eavesdropping agency does not normally comment on intelligence matters, though it has stepped up its public relations in recent months, including for recruitment drives and warnings on cyber-security.
Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman reiterated the GCHQ agency's denial of a report -- which had been repeated by the U.S. president's spokesman on Thursday -- and said the claims "should be ignored".
"We have made this clear to the administration and have received assurances that these allegations will not be repeated," the PM's spokesman said.
Britain's ambassador to Washington Kim Darroch spoke directly to White House press secretary Sean Spicer, although May's spokesman refused to say whether the U.S. administration had apologized.
"The fact is, within the Five Eyes pact, we cannot use each other's capabilities to circumvent our laws," May's spokesman said.
"It's a situation that simply wouldn't arise."
Britain and the United States -- along with Australia, Canada and New Zealand -- are part of the "Five Eyes" intelligence-sharing alliance forged from the embers of World War II.
"We have a close, special relationship with the White House and that allows us to raise concerns as and when they arise as was true in this case," he added.
Late on Thursday, a spokesman for GCHQ said: "Recent allegations made by media commentator Judge Andrew Napolitano about GCHQ being asked to conduct 'wiretapping' against the then-president elect are nonsense."
The press office of GCHQ --, the Government Communications Headquarters -- told AFP on Friday that it was "not unusual" for the agency to make public comment but acknowledged that "perhaps the tone of it was unusual".
The electronic eavesdropping agency does not normally comment on intelligence matters, though it has stepped up its public relations in recent months, including for recruitment drives and warnings on cyber-security.