Boris Johnson meets with Trump's National Security Adviser amid tense fallout from the White House's 'baseless' GCHQ wire tap claims 

  • Foreign Secretary was not planning to raise the incident with General McMaster
  • But he will hope to smooth diplomatic tensions by shifting the focus to ISIS
  • Johnson is in the US for a series of meetings in Washington and New York

Boris Johnson has met with Donald Trump's National Security Adviser amid a continuing row over US claims about GCHQ wire tapping Trump Tower.

The Foreign Secretary, who is not expected to meet the President on his trip to Washington, will hope to smooth diplomatic tensions caused by the incendiary claim but was not planning to specifically raise it with General McMaster.

Its repetition by White House press secretary Sean Spicer in a media briefing last week caused a full blown diplomatic incident and prompted a furious denial from GCHQ, Britain's global listening post and spying agency.

Boris Johnson tweeted a picture of his meeting with US National Security Adviser General McMaster in Washington last night 

Boris Johnson tweeted a picture of his meeting with US National Security Adviser General McMaster in Washington last night 

Intelligence sources said the US had apologised over the claim and No 10 said it had received assurances it would not be repeated.

But the White House rejected suggestions it had apologised and insisted it was only repeating media reports.  

Mr Johnson was not intending to use his US trip to revisit transatlantic tensions over accusations that British intelligence was asked by the Obama administration to monitor Donald Trump when he was running for president, sources suggested.

The Foreign Secretary is keen to concentrate on efforts to fight IS, which the Government calls Daesh, at talks with representatives of some 60 countries. 

The Foreign Secretary is also meeting senior US officials including secretary of state Rex Tillerson. 

The conference comes a day after the US and Britain tightened rules on aeroplane hand baggage to ban laptops and tablets on direct flights from several Middle East and north Africa countries.  

Brexit is also expected to feature during the visit, as the UK attempts to prepare the way for a US trade deal after withdrawal from the EU.

Mr Johnson, pictured jogging in St James' Park yesterday, is planning to focus on countering ISIS on his trip before travelling to New York for UN meetings 

Mr Johnson, pictured jogging in St James' Park yesterday, is planning to focus on countering ISIS on his trip before travelling to New York for UN meetings 

Mr Johnson will travel to New York on Thursday and chair a United Nations Security Council meeting on security in Somalia, famine and South Sudan.

The Foreign Secretary will also host a UN event on female empowerment around the world, aimed at giving women better access to schools, jobs and democracy.

On Monday, NSA director Admiral Mike Rogers insisted his organisation did not ask GCHQ to spy on Mr Trump during his bid for the White House.

Asked if President Trump making 'baseless' claims against British security services damaged the close relationship between the two nations, Admiral Rogers said: 'I think it clearly frustrates a key ally of ours.' 

Mr Johnson is not likely to meet with President Trump during his visit to the United States this week 

Mr Johnson is not likely to meet with President Trump during his visit to the United States this week 

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