Theresa May tells cabinet ministers to call US in wake of Trump 'Muslim ban'

Home Secretary Amber Rudd and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson have been calling the US on Sunday

Prime Minister Theresa May (Reuters)

Theresa May has asked the Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary to contact senior figures in Donald Trump's team in the wake of the new President's 'Muslim ban' executive order.

The Prime Minister held a conference call with Boris Johnson and Amber Rudd on Sunday morning in which the instruction was given to make the calls, following uproar over Mr Trump's plan to temporarily ban travellers coming in to the US from several Muslim-majority countries.

Downing Street sources said the aim of the calls is to make representations, with the goal of protecting the rights of British nationals. But it follows anger from Labour, Tory and Lib Dem MPs alike after Ms May's initial refusal to condemn the policy in the wake of her trip to see Mr Trump.

Calls were said to be made to both the State Department and Department of Homeland Security. However, another Government source told The Independent Mr Johnson and his team were additionally in contact with Trump's top adviser Steve Bannon and his son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner.

According to the source the early indications were that the Trump administration are sympathetic and "understand" the UK's difficulty with the controversial policy.

After Mr Trump made the order, Tory MP Sarah Wollaston said the President should not be allowed to address either House of Parliament on his pending state visit. She was backed by other Tory MPs including Heidi Allen and ex-foreign minister Alistair Burt.

Ms May repeatedly refused to comment on the policy at a press conference in Turkey on Saturday, leading to accusations that she is putting good relations with Mr Trump and the hopes of a post-Brexit trade deal ahead of the interests of British nationals. Following a backlash Downing Street eventually put out a statement saying she "does not agree" with the policy.

Another of her own MPs, Iraqi-born Nadhim Zahawi, spoke out on the matter saying it was "sad" that he might now be banned from the States, where his children are studying.

British Olympic gold medallist Sir Mo Farah who lives and trains in Portland, Oregon, also attacked the ban, calling it "deeply troubling". The Somali-born runner argued that the President’s executive order had made him feel like “an alien”.

In a statement on his Facebook page, Sir Mo wrote: "On 1 January this year, Her Majesty The Queen made me a Knight of the Realm. On 27 January, President Donald Trump seems to have made me an alien."

Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn has called for the Mr Trump's state visit to be postponed until the Muslim country ban is lifted.