£3m police bill for Trump visit
£1.3m more than Obama state trip
TAXPAYERS will foot a policing bill of more than £3million for Donald Trump’s visit.
The Metropolitan Police spent £2.87million safeguarding the president in the capital – with up to 3,000 officers deployed each day.
The figure does not include his red-carpet night at Blenheim Palace, his trip to his Scottish golf course or the cost of policing the huge protest in Trafalgar Square. And it compares with a £1.66million bill for policing Barack Obama’s state visit in 2016.
Labour’s David Lammy said: “When we look back on Theresa May’s time in office, one of many great mistakes will be rolling out the red carpet for Donald Trump, at such great expense to the taxpayer.” Officially, Mr Trump was on a working visit – which do not get the pomp and ceremony of a full state visit. But he still enjoyed tea with the Queen at Windsor Castle and Theresa May greeted him with a black tie gala dinner at Blenheim, with a full military band reception. Figures released under Freedom of Information include bills for guarding Mr Trump while he slept at Winfield House, the US Ambassador’s residence in London’s Regent Park.
They also cover his visit to Windsor Castle and his arrival at Stansted.
But the figure could soar because Thames Valley Police have to finalise overtime payments before costs for the Blenheim visit can be released.
And the Treasury has said it will meet up to £5million of the cost of policing the two-night golf resort stay.