A row has blown up after Ex-President Donald Trump claimed the Labour Party was interfering in US politics by sending supporters to help his opponent Kamala Harris in the presidential election.

But there's nothing new in this - former Ipswich mayor John Cook and some Labour colleagues spent a week helping Barack Obama's campaign for the White House in 2008.

He said there had been long-standing links between the UK's Labour Party and the Democrats in the US - but  members who travelled to the US to join the campaigns did so in a private capacity, it was not paid for by the party.

Mr Cook spent a week in the key state of Ohio in the summer of 2008 - and was in Columbus when Mr Obama campaigned in the state.

Mr Cook was in the crowd behind Barack Obama when he visited Columbus Ohio in 2008.Mr Cook was in the crowd behind Barack Obama when he visited Columbus Ohio in 2008. (Image: John Cook)

He said: "I stayed in a motel with a couple of friends from Norwich. There were several Labour Party members from across the country there - we went at our own expense but had made contact with the Democratic organisers and they allocated things for us to do.

"This happens all the time - we had American Democrats over during our election campaign. We see how they do things, they see how we do. We learn from each other."

He was not impressed by Mr Trump's claim that this amounted to foreign interference in the US election.

During his visit to Columbus Mr Cook was introduced to Democrat supporter Julius who had lived in Ipswich in the 1980s.During his visit to Columbus Mr Cook was introduced to Democrat supporter Julius who had lived in Ipswich in the 1980s. (Image: John Cook)

Mr Cook said: "It's all done on a private basis. We were in touch with each other through our party membership and that helps make contacts the Democrats - but it was all done at our own expense."

There are links between the Republican Party and the Conservatives - and Mr Trump himself has been joined on the campaign by Reform UK leader and Clacton MP Nigel Farage.

Former President Donald Trump is running in this year's election against Kamala Harris.Former President Donald Trump is running in this year's election against Kamala Harris. (Image: Michael M. Santiago)

Since his visit 16 years ago Mr Cook, who is now an executive member at the  borough, has regularly visited schools and colleges in the area to tell young people about his first-hand experience of a US presidential election.