Trump UK visit: Theresa May hails chance to build ‘strong and enduring ties’ with US

Pomp and pageantry of state visit will mask deep tensions

Theresa May has said she hopes to build on the “strong and enduring ties” between the UK and US ahead of Donald Trump‘s much-anticipated state visit.

The prime minister issued a warm welcome to Mr Trump ahead of his three-day visit, which she said would “further strengthen” the special relationship between the two countries.

But the pomp and pageantry of the visit will mask deep tensions, after the president defied diplomatic convention to make a series of extraordinary interventions into British politics.

Only days before his arrival, Mr Trump called for Nigel Farage to take part in the Brexit negotiations and claimed Boris Johnson would be an “excellent” prime minister.

It also comes as Ms May enters her final week as Conservative leader, while 13 candidates jostle to succeed her.

On the eve of the state visit, the prime minister said: “This is a significant week for the special relationship and an opportunity to further strengthen our already close partnership.

“During his state visit to the UK the president and I will be taking part in an historic commemoration of the D-Day landings and the sacrifice our armed forces made 75 years ago.

“And as we reflect on our shared history and honour those who fought so bravely on the beaches of Normandy, we also look to the future.”

Ms May said the relationship between the two countries had “underpinned” their security and prosperity for many years and will continue to do so for “generations to come”.

“We do more together than any other nations in the world. We are the largest investors in each other’s economies and our strong trading relationship and close business links create jobs, opportunities and wealth for our citizens.

“Our security relationship too is deeper, broader and more advanced than with anyone else. Through joint military operations, unrivalled intelligence-sharing and our commitment to Nato, our global leadership remains at the heart of international peace and stability.

“So I look forward to welcoming president Trump to the UK and to building on the strong and enduring ties between our countries.”

Mr Trump and his wife Melania will arrive on Monday morning and be officially welcomed by the Queen, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall at Buckingham Palace.

He will then have a private lunch with the Queen before visiting Westminster Abbey with the Duke of York.

The prime minister is expected to attend a state banquet at Buckingham Palace on Monday evening, where Mr Trump and the Queen will make speeches.

Mass protests are expected in London to greet the president, with several MPs set to join the crowds.

Labour frontbencher Clive Lewis said he planned to be one of the protesters holding the ropes tethering the “Trump baby blimp”, a giant inflatable bright orange effigy of Trump in a nappy.

Elsewhere, Sajid Javid refused to say if he would challenge the president over the US travel ban on nationals from several Muslim-majority countries.

The Conservative leadership hopeful, who would be the first prime minister of Pakistani heritage, would not answer when pressed on whether he would raise the issue during meetings with the US president this week.