Appearing on BBC Newsnight, Mr McTernan was quizzed about whether he felt Trump’s comments on the battle for Prime Minister Theresa May’s job were right or wrong. On Friday, Trump claimed Mr Johnson would be “excellent” as a successor to Mrs May. Speaking to The Sun, Trump said: “I think Boris would do a very good job.

“I think he would be excellent.”

The President added: “I like him. I have always liked him. I don’t know that he is going to be chosen, but I think he is a very good guy, a very talented person.

“He has been very positive about me and our country.”

Despite the glowing reference, Mr McTernan, who worked with Mr Blair while he was in Downing Street between 2005 and 2007, believes it could prove a hinderance to Mr Johnson’s campaign.

He told the show: “A terribly bad idea for him, completely characteristic of the man and it makes you certain that John Bercow was right as Speaker to say this man’s not coming anywhere near the House of Commons.

“This is going to be tried to be boxed off by the Government and Buckingham Palace as a formal state visit event.

“But it’s what we expected and it’s more wide ranging.

“What will the Boris camp think about it today?

“Is it good for him or bad for him?”

The row comes after Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage claimed he was banned by Number 10 from meeting Donald Trump during his state visit next week.

Mr Farage, whose party won last weekend’s EU elections by getting 32 percent of the vote, called decision “small minded and petty”.

Trump visits London between June 3 and 5.

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