Hillary Clinton, “cooperation is strongest when Europe is united”

Hillary Clinton has joined a long line of politicians by steaming into the EU debate - hot on the heels of Barack Obama.

The frontrunner to replace the US President warned against Brexit by claiming the Special Relationship is "strongest when Europe is united".

Leave campaigners blasted Mr Obama for warning Britain would be at the "back of the queue" in a 10-year wait for a trade deal.

But despite the row over whether he should have waded in, Mrs Clinton has now officially backed his stance.

Her senior policy adviser, Jake Sullivan, told The Observer: "Hillary Clinton believes that transatlantic cooperation is essential, and that cooperation is strongest when Europe is united.

"She has always valued a strong United Kingdom in a strong EU. And she values a strong British voice in the EU."

The latest intervention came as Leave campaigners launched a furious backlash against Mr Obama, who jetted off today on Air Force One.

Justice Minister Dominic Raab claimed: "This is really about a lame duck US president about to move off the stage doing an old British friend a favour.

"I have got no doubt that future US trade negotiators are going to look to other opportunities - I think the British will be first in the queue, not at the back of the queue."

Ukip leader Nigel Farage claimed he was "parroting" Downing Street by saying "queue" instead of the more American "line".

He added: "Last time we followed foreign policy advice from a US President was when we went to war in Iraq. We should be wary."

And Boris Johnson hit back after his claim Obama hated Britain was savaged by the President in a televised press conference.

Mr Johnson branded the intervention "weird", saying: "Barack Obama is entitled to his view and he is an honoured guest, but it is ridiculous to warn that the UK will be at the back of the queue for a free trade deal.

The President made a desperate final plea for voters to choose Remain today hours before jetting out of Essex on Air Force One.

He claimed Britain's post- Brexit trade deal with the US could take 10 years, telling the BBC: "Trade deals are a heavy lift. They're challenging.

"The point is that the UK would not be able to negotiate something with the United States faster than the EU. "We wouldn’t abandon our efforts to negotiate a trade deal with our largest trading partner, the European market."But rather it could be five years from now, ten years from now before we were able to actually get something done."