Trump faces London ban over protest fears

DONALD Trump could end up meeting British Prime Minister Theresa May and Queen Elizabeth outside London to stop mass protests overshadowing his first visit as President.

UK officials are looking at whether to stage some or all of the July 13 trip away from the British capital amid fears of violent demonstrations.

Mr Trump will hold talks with Mrs May, officials said. But his opponents have already announced plans to protest, with tens of thousands pledging to attend events.

As a result the US President could be kept out of London. Instead, he may meet Queen Elizabeth or other royals in either Scotland or Windsor – although it will not be a state visit.

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson tweeted that it was ‘fantastic news’ that the President was coming ‘at last’ and claimed it would be the ‘greatest visit ever’.

The announcement will come as a boost for relations between London and Washington after a series of clashes between Mrs May and Mr Trump. He was first invited to Britain when he took office last year, but the visit was delayed amid fears of demonstrations.

Yesterday, critics wasted no time in announcing they would hold huge protests against him. Journalist and Jeremy Corbyn ally Owen Jones tweeted: ‘Official: Donald Trump is coming to Britain on Friday 13th July. EVERYBODY OUT ON THE STREETS!’

More than 30,000 people have already confirmed on Facebook that they will attend a protest hosted by a campaign group calling itself Stop Trump.

Liberal Democrat deputy leader Jo Swinson said her party would be ‘front and centre’ of demonstrations against the President, adding: ‘The Government has made the right decision to cancel Trump’s state visit but this scaleddown trip must not be met with scaled-down protests. Protesting against a man with dangerous, misogynistic and racist views is our responsibility.’

Kate Allen, UK director of campaign group Amnesty International added: ‘When Donald Trump arrives on these shores, we and thousands of our supporters will very definitely be making our voices heard.’

The President is expected to attend a Nato summit in Brussels on July 11 and 12 and travel to the UK afterwards.

Michelle Kosinski, senior diplomatic correspondent for CNN, tweeted: ‘British govt working on plans to possibly keep Trump’s big meetings OUTSIDE of London during his July visit, to minimise inevitable protests. Eg. Meeting with Queen could be at Windsor; with May at Chequers.’

The Bow Group, an influential Conservative party think-tank, urged Mr Trump to avoid London. Its chairman Ben Harris-Quinney said: ‘There are many in Britain who strongly support the President … and wish for President Trump to be afforded the warmest of welcomes. Sadly that will not be the case in London.’

Demonstrations erupted when Mr Trump went to Paris last July, but the visit was not affected.

‘We will be making our voices heard’