Boris Johnson likens GCHQ spy claims 'to gnat on rhino'

The UK foreign secretary has described the claim that GCHQ carried out surveillance on Donald Trump during the US presidential election campaign as "absurd and ridiculous".

Speaking in the House of Commons Boris Johnson denied the allegation would undermine the relationship between the UK and US intelligence agencies, likening the impact to that "of a gnat against a rhinoceros".

Former Labour minister Ben Bradshaw called for assurances that "fantastical and ridiculous outbursts... by the "current incumbent of the White House" had not damaged the "invaluable intelligence" relationship.

The foreign secretary said he was certain it had done no lasting damage either to the UK's ties with the US or to intelligence sharing.