Leaked diplomatic memo suggests Britain can 'influence' Donald Trump

British officials are hoping to influence Donald Trump by exploiting his inexperience in office and his character, suggests a secret memo reportedly from the UK's top diplomat in the US.

The president-elect's bombastic campaign that took him into the White House revealed his "instincts", Sir Kim Darroch, Britain's ambassdador to the US explained.

The populist pledges that stirred up support for the businessman could be shaped by UK officials who have already laid groundwork in the US, Sir Kim suggested.

The memo, seen by The Sunday Times, said: "The president-elect is above all an outsider and unknown quantity, whose campaign pronouncements may reveal his instincts, but will surely evolve and, particularly, be open to outside influence if pitched right.

"Having, we believe, built better relationships with his team than have the rest of Washington diplomatic corps, we should be well placed to do this."

Downing Street said it didn't comment on leaked documents.