Nigel Farage rehearses for role as Ambassador to Donald Trump’s US by posing with Ferrero Rocher at posh Brexit bash
Ukip leader carries chocolate pyramid at party thrown in his honour at the Ritz to celebrate his 20 years in politics
NIGEL Farage tried to show off his ambassadorial credentials at a posh bash to celebrate his role in Brexit — even posing with a tray of Ferrero Rocher.
He roared with laughter as he was given the chocs, which the firm’s infamous telly adverts claimed were enjoyed at ambassadors’ receptions.
Mr Farage has been at the centre of a transatlantic row after Donald Trump suggested he should be Britain’s US Ambassador.
The President-elect broke with diplomatic protocol to announce on Twitter he thought the interim Ukip leader would do a “great job” in the role.
After No10 slapped down the idea, insisting there was "no vacancy" in Washington, he hit out at the “cesspit that is career politics”.
But it was all smiles last night as he attended a lavish party thrown in his honour by Brexit-backers at London’s Ritz Hotel.
And the cheeky choc offering happened as sources close to Ukip confirmed that Mr Farage plans to head out to the US again next month.
The MEP will be heading over with the same team who met with Trump over a week ago.
In the much-mocked 1993 ad a butler reveals a tower of gold-wrapped chocs, at which a woman gasps: “Ambassador, with these Rocher you are really spoiling us!”
At the party he also predicted a "seismic shock" at the next general election if Theresa May has not taken Britain out of the EU by 2020.
He said he suspected that the Conservative Government may turn out to be "not fit for the legacy of Brexit".
And he added that he expected a "realignment" of politics which could involve old parties disappearing and being replaced with new ones reflecting the new public mood.
His speech was heralded by Leave.EU spokesman Andy Wigmore - who joined him at Trump Tower - with a call for attention from "Ladies, Gents, Lords and ... diplomats".
Mr Farage told the gathering: "We've got a problem. In America the revolution is total. Not only have the people spoken and won, but the old administration, Obama and all those ghastly people, are out and the Trump people are in.
"In this country, the people have spoken, but the same players have just been shuffled around the chess board and we are still being run by the career professional political class.
"I am not sure what is going to happen over the course of the next couple of years but I suspect there's another big seismic shock in British politics perhaps going to come at the next election.
"I suspect that the Conservative party is not fit for the legacy of Brexit. I suspect there is going to be a genuine realignment of British politics over the course of the next three or four years.
"It is unfinished business - the people have spoken but the establishment don't want to listen. There are great battles to be fought and I'm going to go on fighting those battles."
The reception at the Ritz was hosted by millionaire Arron Banks, who was thanked by Mr Farage for bankrolling the Leave.EU campaign.
Also present were Conservative MPs Jacob Rees-Mogg and Peter Bone, Labour donor John Mills and Ukip leadership candidate Paul Nuttall.
Asked if he would back the interim Ukip leader for ambassador, Mr Rees-Mogg told the Press Association: "Mr Farage's relationship with Mr Trump could be beneficial for the country but I am not sure he should be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.
"Mr Farage is certainly extraordinary in his own way but I think that being plenipotentiary as well may be a bit too much."
Mr Farage recalled that he had joined Mr Banks and other leading Brexiteers at the Ritz on the morning after the June 23 referendum for a victory breakfast of champagne and kippers - a reference to the nickname for Ukip supporters.
He said: "When people look back in 100 or 200 years, 2016 will be seen as one of the great historic years - a year of big political revolution.
"Brexit was the first brick knocked out of the establishment wall and then look what we got on November 8. The election of The Donald was something of a completely different order."
To cheers he said: "For those of you who aren't particularly happy with what happened in 2016, I've got some really bad news for you - it's going to get a bloody sight worse next year."