Trump urged to switch visit to Scotland

● Conservative bodies say US president can dodge London protests at Balmoral

US president Donald Trump has been urged to avoid London and come to Scotland when he makes his long-awaited visit to the UK on Friday 13 July. The trip will be a “working visit” rather than a full state occasion.

A trans-atlantic coalition of Conservative groups told the president that Scotland is a “superior destination” and warned that “many in Britain have shown an extremely immature attitude”.

A trans-atlantic coalition of conservative groups has called on Donald Trump to skip London and visit Scotland later this year, as the White House confirmed the date of the US president’s first trip to the UK since his election.

Mr Trump will make a short working visit to the UK on Friday 13 July for talks with Prime Minister Theresa May, Downing Street said.

It came as the Bow Group and Republicans Overseas Scotland wrote to Mr Trump telling him that Scotland is a “superior destination” and warning him that “many in Britain have shown an extremely immature attitude”.

Instead, they said the president’s “ancestral homeland of Scotland represents a powerful bond” between the US and the UK, and suggested he would be “afforded the warmest of welcomes”.

Their letter, backed by four other Conservative associations including the Bruges Group, urges Mr Trump to make the Queen’s Scottish residence at Balmoral his base for the upcoming visit. The Queen is not normally at Balmoral in July.

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard has pledged to lead protests if Mr Trump does come to Scotland as part of his itinerary.

Scottish green party co-leader Patrick Harvie MSPs aid he “laughed” at the idea of Scotland welcoming Mr Trump.

“If this group of Tories think coming to Scotland will avoid the level of opposition Trump would receive in London, they frankly misunderstand Scotland’s long history of opposing racism, sexism and bigotry,” Mr Harvie said.

Tory councillor Ben Harrisquinney, the chairman of the Bow Group, said: “A visit to London by the president is likely to draw major protests, crime and disorder, and we do not wish to see Britain or President Trump embarrassed by this.”

Drew Liquerman, the chairman of Republicans Overseas Scotland, added: “President Trump’s strong contribution to the Scottish economy and unique relationship with Scotland in addition to security concerns brought about in London in part by large demonstrations supported and backed by London mayor Sadiq Khan, make Scotland a natural choice for a state visit to further the US-UK special relationship.”

Mr Trump will travel to the UK after a Nato summit in Brussels on 12 July. No further details of the visit have been released. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has previously said a state visit “would not be appropriate” because of Mr Trump’s comments endorsing the far right and condemning immigrants.