UK braced for days of mass protests as Trump flies in
● President to get official welcome to Scotland despite calls for boycott
Donald Trump will arrive in the UK this evening to a royal welcome and mass protest, with his first visit as president mired in conflict and controversy before it even begins.
Last night Theresa May said there was “no stronger alliance” than the one with the US as the UK leaves the EU, despite the president saying her government was “in turmoil” and his ambassador in London describing the Prime Minister as “fragile”.
In one of the biggest police operations since the 2011 riots, thousands of officers from England, Wales and Scotland will be mobilised to protect the US president during his four days in Britain.
Despite being a first-generation Scot and only the second serving president to visit Scotland, Mr Trump’ s welcome is likely to be coolest when he arrives north of the Border on Friday night, with cross-party calls for him to face a “travel ban”.
US officials have not requested a meeting between the president and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, but he will be greeted on the tarmac at Prestwick airport by the Scottish Secretary David Mundell, who welcomed the opportunity to “strengthen vital links with one of our most important global allies”.
An invitation was first issued to the US president to come to the UK for a state visit in January 2017, weeks
“The UK and the US have long-standing and important cultural, trade and security bonds” DAVID MUNDELL
after his inauguration. That has since been delayed, with this week’s working visit falling between a tense Nato summit in Brussels and a controversial meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin on Monday, which Mr Trump suggested would be the “easiest” of the itinerary.
Talks in the UK are set to focus on security and post-Brexit trade. Hailing the longawaited visit, Mrs May said: “There is no stronger al liance than that of our special relationship with the US and there will be no alliance more important in the years ahead.
“The UK and the US already have a uniquely close partnership in the fight for democracy and global security and we share a global outlook across the vast majority of foreign policy issues.”
The Prime Minister added: “This week we have an opportunity to deep en this unique trading relationship and begin discussions about how we will forge a strengthened, ambitious and future -proof trade partnership.
“As two nations – we are saf- er, more prosperous and more creative when we work together and I am looking forward to this week’s important discussions.”
The president and his wife Melania will be hosted by Mrs May for a black tie dinner this evening at Blenheim Palace, Winston Churchill’ s birthplace.
After staying overnight at Win field House, the US Ambassador’ s residence in London’ s Regents Park, Mr Trump will be treated to a Guard of Honour when he meets the Queen at Windsor Castle-tomorrow. The president will join the Prime Minister to view US and British special forces carry out a joint training exercise at a secret location, before holding talks at Chequers. He will fly to Scotland-tomorrow.
Mr Mundell said he was looking forward to greeting Mr Trump. He added: “The UK and the US have long-standing and important cultural, trade and security bonds.
“The president’s Scots heritage is well known, and I hope he enjoys his visit to Scotland.”
But in a joint statement, Scottish Lab our leader Richard Leonard and Scottish Greens co - convener Patrick Har vie said Air Force One should not be allowed to land at Prestwick, which is owned by the Scottish Government.
“Donald Trump is not welcome here,” they said.
“The horrific scenes at the Mexican border are a repudiation of decent human values. Caging children like animals is barbaric.
“From his disgraceful equating of anti-fascist campaigners with Nazis in Charlottesville, his withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement, to his Islamophobic travel ban and his misogyny, Donald Trump has demonstrated that he should be denied any kind of welcome.”
There was a taste of the reception the president is likely to receive when protestors demonstrated outside the Trump Turnberry golf course in Ayrshire yesterday, where he is expected to stay.
Organisers Stand Up To Racism said the US president was “not welcome”, with spokeswoman Charlotte Ahmed calling him “the world’s number one racist”.
“Trump is abhorrent—his baby jails are only the latest outrage—and Theresa May should not have invited him. Each has created a hostile environment for migrants and refugees,” Ms Ahmed said.
“Normalising Donald Trump is a dangerous path to tread.”
As well as a major demonstration in London, two large protests are planned while the US president is in Scotland: one in Glasgow’ s George Square from 5 pm on Friday, followed by a march on Saturday from the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh at noon.