WASHINGTON (Reuters) - US President Donald Trump should not interfere in Britain's upcoming election when he visits London for a NATO summit next week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday.
"What we don't usually do as allies and close friends is to interfere in each other's election campaigns," said Johnson, whose Conservatives lead in opinion polls ahead of the Dec. 12 election.
"The best thing to do when there are close friends and allies like the United States and Britain is that no side interferes in the elections of the other side," he told LBC radio.
But Trump is already running in the election, saying in October that opposition Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbyn would be a "very bad" choice for Britain, and that Johnson should strike a deal with Brexit leader Nigel Virag. Corbin took advantage of Trump's praise for Johnson to attack the Conservatives in his campaign, saying he would sell parts of the state-run National Health Service, which is popular with US companies after Britain leaves the European Union if they win the election.
Leading Conservative leaders fear Trump will say during his two-day visit that could adversely affect their campaign, the Sun newspaper reported on Sunday.
Trump has not shied away from engaging in British politics during previous visits, including his criticism of former Prime Minister Theresa May's policy on Britain's secession from the European Union.
In an hour-long interview with LBC, in which Johnson answered listeners' questions, he vowed that Britain would leave the bloc by January 31, if his party wins an effective majority in parliament. "If we can get a working majority, we will reach (the exit point) on January 31 at the latest," Johnson said.
He also stressed that he saw no reason to extend the transition period after Brexit until the end of 2020.