No 10 rejects Trump's call for Farage to be made US ambassador

• Video report by ITV News Deputy Political Editor Chris Ship

Donald Trump and Downing Street are seemingly at odds after the president-elect's call for Nigel Farage to be appointed as Britain's ambassador to the US was rejected.

Mr Trump tweeted that he believed Mr Farage would do a "great job" in the diplomatic role.

The 70-year-old, who enjoys a convivial relationship with the Ukip leader, added that there were a number of people who also wanted to see the Brexiteer take over the reins.

However, the suggestion was quickly shot down by Number 10, with a spokesperson saying that there was "no vacancy" available.

The prime minister's spokesman later said that the UK appoints its own ambassadors and that there were no plans for Sir Kim Darroch to leave the role.

A Downing Street spokesperson added: "We already have an excellent ambassador to the US."

Theresa May's spokesman said the UK has an "incredibly strong and enduring" relationship with the US, saying this would be built on when Mr Trump takes office.

That was echoed by Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson who said that the UK has a "first-rate" ambassador in post and that there was no space for a new incumbent.

Several MPs expressed relief at the UK's firm stance on the question.

Conservative Dan Poulter said "Diplomats require diplomacy" adding there was no room for anyone who expressed Mr Farage's "inflammatory...bordering on racist" views to represent the country to the US.

Sir Simon Burns also suggested that Trump's "extremely generous" advice could be repaid with a similar recommendation of Hillary Clinton as the future US ambassador to the UK.

Mr Farage, 52, wrote on Breitbart News that he would "do anything" to help the "national interest" and criticised UK politicians who had previously disapproved of the president-elect but now "pretended to be his friend".

"I have said since the now famous photograph with Donald Trump ten days ago that I would do anything to help our national interest and to help cement ties with the incoming Anglophile administration", Mr Farage wrote on Breitbart.

He added: "At every stage I am greeted by negative comments coming out of Downing Street.

"The dislike of me, UKIP, and the referendum result is more important to them than what could be good for our country.

"I have known several of the Trump team for years and I am in a good position with the President-elect’s support to help.

"The world has changed and its time that Downing Street did too."

Mr Farage told ITV News after meetings in Strasbourg that he was "very flattered" by Mr Trump's comments.

"It's interesting, isn't it?" he mused. "He's from the world of business, and in business people work on trust - not a commodity that you see much of in politics."

He added: "This is entirely up to the British government. If they assess that I could be of some value... If they think that's in the national interest, then I can do something constructive, but the ball is in their court."

Mr Farage, speaking to ITV News Deputy Political Editor Chris Ship earlier on Tuesday, said that the news had come as a "bolt from the blue".

Asked by ITV News whether his temperament might not suit the diplomatic service, he responded that the "world has changed".

Billionaire Mr Trump's endorsement is likely to cause fresh embarrassment for Theresa May, who was beaten to meeting the Republican in person by Mr Farage.

Just days after his election victory, Mr Farage was pictured beside him in a golden lift following a private meeting at Trump Tower in New York.

By comparison, Mrs May has only spoken to the billionaire businessman over the phone, after reportedly waiting for a string of other leaders to congratulate the winner.

Ukip's Tim Aker predicted that there would come a time the Government would "beg" Farage for his help in dealing with Trump.

"What they should have done is work with Nigel Farage", Mr Aker said.

"But at the end of the day, Nigel Farage's relationship is just going to get better and stronger - way above Boris Johnson's, way above Theresa May's".

• Who is the UK's current ambassador to the United States?

Sir Kim Darroch was appointed Her Majesty's Ambassador to the United States in January this year.

The 62-year-old joined the Foreign Office in 1976 and the Diplomatic Service in 1980.

Sir Kim served as Britain's second National Security Advisor from January 2012 to September 2015.