Running app in Ionic View I cannot seem to access external URL's

I have a cordova app that when running on my device can access an external API - however when I use my app in the Ionic View Simulator on either an Android or iOS device I am no longer able to connect to any external URL (e.g my login doesn't work).

Is there anything in Ionic View that would prevent me from accessing external URL's?

-- update -- The app shows a blank white screen in the Ionic View.

The only plugins installed are as follows:

• cordova-plugin-device
• cordova-plugin-file
• cordova-plugin-file-transfer
• cordova-plugin-native-transitions
• cordova-plugin-whitelist