British government must NOT protect ex-spy behind claims of 'dirty' dossier on Trump, says Tory MP as No10 defends effort to suppress his identity

  • Downing Street defends trying to stop ex-agent being named and stress no serving officials seem to have been involved in memos
  • Fears that row could derail Theresa May's crucial visit to Washington in the coming weeks 
  • Tory MP warns government should not be assisting former MI6 agent amid speculation he has fled to a safe house 
  • Nigel Farage suggests PM should give reassurances government had no connection to bizarre dossier claims

The government has been warned not to protect the ex-MI6 agent who made outlandish claims about a Russian 'dirty' dossier on Donald Trump.

Tory MPs are urging Theresa May to distance the UK government from the row after the former spy who drew up controversial memos was named as Christopher Steele.

Downing Street has been forced to defend issuing a so-called 'DA-notice' in an attempt to suppress Steele's identity.

The PM's spokeswoman insisted it was 'standard process' to try to avoid ex-agents being exposed. She also stressed that no serving officials seem to have been involved in the memos.

At a dramatic press conference yesterday, Mr Trump called the dossier 'fake' and 'phony', even suggesting US secret services had leaked it to damage his reputation

Mr Steele, 52, fled his £1.5million mansion in west London yesterday, telling his neighbour: 'Look after my cat.'

There are also suggestions that a former UK ambassador to Russia was involved in passing the dossier to Republican Senator John McCain - a sworn enemy of Mr Trump.

Sir Tim Barrow, who is thought to have worked there with Mr Steele, is the only former ambassador to Moscow still in the civil service. He was appointed as the UK's envoy to the EU this month.

However, Whitehall sources have insisted Sir Tim was not involved with the memos in any way.

The PM's official spokeswoman was asked today if assistance was being given to the former agent - after a so-called DA-notice was issued asking media not to reveal his name.

‘We are not commenting on this,' she said.

‘From the reports I have seen, those all seem to be about former staff.

‘There is a standard process that is followed with regard to the naming of people that have worked in certain roles in the civil service, be they still serving or former roles.

‘As I said, all the reporting I have seen of this seems to relate to former employees.’

The spokeswoman said she was not aware that Mr Trump’s team had been in touch with Britain to seek clarification.

She added that preparations are continuing for Mrs May's crucial visit to Washington in the coming weeks - where she is desperate to lay the groundwork for a post-Brexit trade deal. 

‘We are in touch with the team to continue the planning for the first meeting between the Prime Minister and the President-elect,’ the spokeswoman said.

Tory MPs have raised concerns that the controversy over Mr Steele's memos could derail efforts to rebuild the 'special relationship'. They have also warned that there must be no official assistance for Mr Steel - amid speculation he could have fled to a 'safe house'.

Backbencher Philip Davies turned up the pressure on No 10 to reassure Mr Trump that the UK Government had nothing to do with the ‘dirty’ dossier.

He told MailOnline today: ‘Whether they say it in public or privately say it to Donald Trump – I’m not really bothered – but as long as the President-elect knows none of this is being done on behalf of the UK as a country or on behalf of the UK as a Government.

'If this person acted as an individual then MI6 should not be assisting him. If they do assist him then it will look as if his actions were sanctioned by MI6 which would be utterly unacceptable.'

Mr Trump has made use of his Twitter feed to denounce the publication of the claims

The Kremlin has also ridiculed the idea it holds lewd videos of Mr Trump shot at Moscow hotel

Nigel Farage told MailOnline Mrs May should give 'private reassurance' that the government had no involvement in the memos.

'These are the actions of an individual who did apparently once work for the intelligence services,' he said.

'They might want to give some private reassurance.

'Private assurance might be sensible but I don't think this poses a big issue for the British government.

'They have got some other fences to mend but this is not necessarily a big problem.'

The 35-page briefing, which is littered with spelling mistakes, includes an unsubstantiated and far-fetched claim Trump watched prostitutes perform a 'golden shower (urination) show' in the Presidential Suite of a Moscow hotel.

Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage said the US president-elect had been made stronger by the furore because Americans could see the establishment was 'out to get him'

At a dramatic press conference yesterday, Mr Trump called the dossier 'fake' and 'phony', even suggesting that US secret services had leaked it to damage his reputation before his inauguration.

He debunked the 'golden shower' claim by saying: 'Does anyone believe that? I'm a germophobe'.

The BBC has now claimed that there is a second dossier and despite allegations being widely rubbished one journalist said 'the head of an East European intelligence agency' insists the sex tape exists.

Steele was seen fleeing his gated home in his car yesterday and appears to have been in such a rush most of the lights were left on.

A security source said: 'He is terrified for his safety', adding he may now be abroad or in a safe house.

Part of the document, allegedly compiled by a former British intelligence agent, is seen above. Click here to see the full document first published by Buzzfeed

Mr Farage said Mr Trump's popularity would not be harmed by the row and praised his performance at yesterday's press conference.

'He was calm and didn't take any nonsense. This is the new White House,' Mr Farage said.

'I think a lot of Americans will look at this and think the establishment are still out to get him.' 

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