Treasury will foot Scots bill for Trump visit

A security bill of up to £5 million for Donald Trump’s likely visit to Scotland next week will be paid by the UK government.

About 5,000 police officers are expected to be needed north of the border to cover the US president’s arrival.

The UK Treasury confirmed it would stump up the money for security costs “on an exceptional basis”.

It is believed Mr Trump will head to Scotland after meeting Prime Minister Theresa May in London.

The multi-million-pound cost of policing a visit to Scotland by US president Donald Trump will be met by the UK government.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss said yesterday that the UK government would provide funding of up £5 million “on an exceptional basis” to cover security for the presidential visit, assuming it goes ahead.

The announcement came after the Scottish Government’s new Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf wrote to the Home Office to demand that Whitehall foots the bill.

Last week Mr Yousaf wrote to Home Secretary Sadiq Khan after it emerged that a US presidential visit north of the Border could cost Police Scotland around £5m and require more than 5,000 officers.

Responding to the letter, Ms Truss said: “The final details of the president’s visit to the UK, including Scotland, are still to be confirmed. As you are aware, policing is a devolved matter in Scotland. However, on an exceptional basis, I can confirm that the Treasury would provide ring-fenced funding of up to £5m to cover the costs incurred by Police Scotland should a visit by the president be confirmed.”

Mr Yousaf said: “This is a welcome decision, given that President Trump is coming to the UK on the invitation of the UK government.

“However, we should not have had to force this decision – and there should never have been an assumption that the Scottish Government would pick up the tab.”

Green MSP Patrick Harvie said: “For the UK government to suggest they are doing Police Scotland a favour on this ‘exceptional basis’ is somewhat patronising.”

Mr Harvie said the US president was not invited to Scotland and suggested a Scottish visit would be made to avoid protests. The MSP described Mr Trump as a “vile xenophobe”, adding that he hoped as many people as possible would demonstrate against him.

0 Donald Trump is due to visit the UK later this month, with a trip to Scotland rumoured but not confirmed