Who Labour has rolled out the red carpet for...

NICOLAE CEAUSESCU

The dictator and wife Elena were welcomed under Labour in 1978 – when Romania was already known as one of the most corrupt and oppressive of the Communist regimes. It was said the Queen ensured she avoid meeting them. The Ceausescus were overthrown and executed in 1989.

VLADIMIR PUTIN

In June 2003, under Tony Blair’s government, Putin became the first Russian leader to make an official state visit since Tsar Nicholas I in 1843. It sparked huge demonstrations against Russia’s human rights abuses in Chechnya.

GEORGE W BUSH

The US president was welcomed in November, 2003 despite mass protests against the Iraq war. ‘Now is not the time to waver,’ Mr Blair said. A reported £5million was spent on extra security for the four-day state visit.