Donald Trump may have borrowed money from Russian lenders to prop up his businesses after the financial crisis of 2008, says Sir Richard Dearlove

A former head of MI6 has suggested that Donald Trump borrowed money from Russian lenders to keep his property empire afloat.

Sir Richard Dearlove, who ran the service from 1999 until 2004, said that financial links with Moscow may “linger” for the US president.

Amid intense scrutiny of his relationship with Russia, Mr Trump has strenuously denied any business links with the country.

Sir Richard said that the allegations surrounding members of Mr Trump’s team over contact with the Russian government were “unprecedented”.

Speaking to Prospect magazine, he said: “What lingers for Trump may be what deals — on what terms — he did after the financial crisis of 2008 to borrow Russian money when others in the west apparently would not lend to him.”