But Downing St flatly dismisses the idea saying they are already forging 'warm' relations with Donald Trump

Theresa May brutally slapped down calls for Nigel Farage to be used as a go-between with Donald Trump today.

Downing Street flatly dismissed the prospect after the jubilant Ukip leader was pictured with the US president-elect at his opulent New York penthouse.

Pressure has been growing for the government to take advantage of Mr Farage's bond with the incoming commander-in-chief.

But the Prime Minister's official spokeswoman pointed out that Mr Trump has already said he wants a Reagan-Thatcher style relationship with Mrs May.

'I don't remember there being a third person in that relationship,' the spokeswoman added.

No10 also fuelled speculation that Mrs May could visit the US to meet Mr Trump even before he formally takes over from President Barack Obama in January.

Theresa May, pictured on a visit to Diabetes UK offices today, has been under mounting pressure to give Nigel Farage a role as a go-between with Donald Trump

There have been growing signs of splits at the top of government in recent days, with one senior Whitehall source warning thePrime Minister it would be 'churlish' not to take advantage of Mr Farage's links with Trump.

They said the close connection between Mr Trump and the Ukip leader meant the PM should consider using his expertise.

'While he is clearly not going to be an official representative, it would be churlish to rubbish him completely,' the source said.

Downing Street stressed Mrs May had a 'warm' phone conversation with the president-elect last week, in which he said he wanted a relationship similar to that of Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan.

Asked whether Mr Farage's bond with Mr Trump could be exploited, the PM's spokeswoman said: 'We have established routes of engagement with the president-elect and his team...

'There are well established channels for that relationship between the elected leader of the US and the PM, and we intend to continue with that route.'

No10 declined to rule out a meeting between Mrs May and the Republican before he takes over at the White House - saying only that they would 'set out dates in due course'.

Mr Farage said he was 'extremely optimistic' about a post-Brexit US-UK trade deal after meeting Mr Trump and his advisers, claiming he had persuaded Mr Trump to restore a bust of Winston Churchill – removed by Barack Obama – to the Oval Office.

Mr Farage posed with the billionaire US president-elect over the weekend – just days after No 10 rejected reports he could play a formal role in Anglo-American relations

But he warned Mrs May had to 'mend some fences' as the Trump camp was aware her chiefs of staff Fiona Hill and Nick Timothy had been 'very rude' about the president-elect on social media.

In New York yesterday Mr Farage hinted ministers were sounding him out about working for the Government in some capacity.

In a swipe at British officials who have dismissed his links to Mr Trump, the Ukip leader said: 'It would appear that the apparatchiks in Downing Street keep saying very negative things about me. I'd have thought that's just a little bit short-sighted, frankly.

One senior Whitehall source told the Prime Minister it would be 'churlish' not to take advantage of Mr Farage's links with Trump

Downing Street said there would be no place for Mr Farage in the relationship between Mrs May (pictured on a visit to Diabetes UK offices today) and Mr Trump

'I would have thought, in the national interest, they perhaps ought to bury their personal enmity towards me and we ought to have a constructive conversation.'

He told Sky News: 'If I'm wanted by anyone in London to help, I would help.' Mr Farage's currency is high with the Trump camp, which had been inspired by his role in Brexit.

PM URGED TO FORGE THATCHER-STYLE TIES WITH DONALD TRUMP Theresa May should use the Thatcher-Reagan relationship as a template for forging ties with Donald Trump, a former foreign secretary has said. Sir Malcolm Rifkind said the PM should follow the example of the first female British prime minister. 'I think Theresa May has a very important opportunity. She has already spoken to the president, she has been invited to Washington early in Mr Trump's term of office and that's excellent,' senior Tory Sir Malcolm told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. 'The immediate requirement, in a sense - and I don't want to exaggerate this - but it is to try and do with Mr Trump what Margaret Thatcher did with Ronald Reagan. 'Margaret Thatcher was able to persuade Reagan as to the need to have dialogue with Mr (Mikhail) Gorbachev and because she was the Iron Lady he listened to her in a way that he wouldn't have listened to anyone else.' He said Mrs May should use her influence to convince Mr Trump of the importance of Nato. Advertisement

Within hours of the election result last week, Steve Bannon, Mr Trump's presidential campaign chief, admitted the Brexit vote had resounded with many of their supporters. 'Nigel Farage is a hero to these people,' he said.

Last night some senior Tories reacted with incredulity at the prospect of Mr Farage securing an official or semi-official role.

Former party leader Iain Duncan Smith said: 'From what I've seen of Nigel Farage he doesn't fly by aircraft, he flies by ego. If he's so keen to get a job with us let's hope it's a good one – like our representative in Outer Mongolia.'

Crispin Blunt, chairman of the foreign affairs select committee, said it was 'completely implausible' the Ukip leader would take up such a role as he suggested.

'I think there's a fantastic opportunity actually for a decent relationship for the United Kingdom with the new administration – and no need for Nigel,' he told The Andrew Marr Show on BBC1.

But ex-defence minister Sir Gerald Howarth said it was a 'mistake' not to use Mr Farage. 'We are living in unconventional times,' he said.

'We should use all means at our disposal to forge a connection with the man who will be leader of the free world.

'As we leave the EU, this relationship will be of even more importance. If Nigel Farage has an entree with the president-elect, then fine – let's use it. He's not a criminal.'

Former UK trade envoy Lord Marland suggested Mr Farage could be a 'salesman' for Britain. He told BBC Radio 5 Live that Mr Trump will want to 'turbo-charge' the relationship between the US and the UK.

Former UK trade envoy Lord Marland suggested Mr Farage could be a 'salesman' for Britain.

Another senior Whitehall source brushed off Mr Farage's transatlantic adventures. 'Farage is an MEP who went over there. This is not something we are thinking about,' the source said.

But Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said Mr Farage's meeting was a humiliation for Mrs May.

Donald Trump may only live in the White House part-time as he is so fond of his New York apartment, it has been claimed. A source told the New York Times Mr Trump was 'talking with his advisers about how many nights a week he will spend in the White House'.