Trump UK visit: Farage meets president as Tory leader hopefuls reject Trump’s demand NHS is opened to US firms
'Comprehensive' trade deal promised as US leader suggests American involvement in healthcare a possibility
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Donald Trump has insisted the NHS would be “on the table” in any post-Brexit trade talks. “When you’re dealing with trade everything is on the table. So NHS or anything else, a lot more than that,” the US president said at a press conference with Theresa May.
He earlier promised, not for the first time, a “very substantial” post-Brexit trade deal with the UK as he met Ms May on the second day of his state visit, following a lavish royal banquet at Buckingham Palace. The leaders also discussed the role of Huawei in the UK’s 5G network.
Meanwhile, Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage has said he had a “good meeting” with the president at the US ambassador’s residence and that Mr Trump “really believes in Brexit”.
Mr Farage was photographed being driven into Winfield House on Tuesday afternoon.
He later tweeted: “Good meeting with President Trump - he really believes in Brexit and is loving his trip to London.”
Trump UK visit: Best placards at anti-Trump protests
Show all 17Mr Farage has campaigned for years to take Britain out of the European Union and is one of Trump’s most prominent British supporters. The president has called him a friend.
Mr Farage’s newly founded Brexit Party was the big winner in last month’s European Parliament elections in Britain, scooping up support from voters angry that the UK has not left the EU.
He has criticised the prime minister's divorce deal with the bloc and said Britain should leave the EU without an agreement.
Mr Trump praised Ms May’s handling of Brexit on Tuesday, saying she had gotten a good deal.
Additional reporting by AP. Please allow a moment for the live blog to load
Mr Trump has told Theresa May to "stick around" so the pair can "do this deal".
Alas, the prime minister has already promised to step down.
The Trump baby blimp is airborne, if only a few feet off the ground (Andy Rain/EPA)
Home secretary Sajid Javid was snubbed from attending the lavish state banquet in honour of Donald Trump at Buckingham Palace, writes Lizzy Buchan.
Mr Javid, the son of Pakistani Muslim parents, was the only holder of a great office of state - which include prime minister, foreign secretary, home secretary and chancellor - not to be invited to the opulent dinner hosted by the Queen.
The omission of the Conservative leadership hopeful from the guest list has raised eyebrows in Westminster, as rivals Jeremy Hunt, the foreign secretary, and Michael Gove, the environment secretary, were among senior ministers in attendance.
Michael Gove is expected to meet Donald Trump one-on-one at some point today, according to reports.
Sky News reporter Tom Rayner said Mr Gove's team was yet to receive formal confirmation.
People hand out Donald Trump toilet paper in central London as people start to gather to demonstrate against the state visit (Matt Dunham/AP)
Dozens of demonstrators are gathering in Trafalgar Square carrying a variety of placards including one that says "Dump Trump''.
Groups represented include the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop Trump Coalition, Stop The War Coalition, Stand Up To Racism and Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. Placards include slogans: "No to racism, no to Trump'', "Migrants and refugees welcome here'', and "Lock him in the Tower''.
PA
Don Lessem is the man behind the Trump toilet robot, writes Tom Batchelor.
He is a dinosaur expert from the US who worked on Jurassic Park and now builds robots in China.
Mr Lessem told The Independent: "I came to the U.K. because you guys protest – I want Americans to do that.
"Trump isn’t welcome anywhere. He has been putting immigrant children in cages.
"He doesn’t respect democracy, he’s a would-be dictator. My robot is very stable, like a genius."
Don Lessem pictured in front of his creation (Tom Batchelor/The Independent)
Donald Trump has praised Theresa May during their business meeting.
"I very much appreciate the relationship we have had. It's been outstanding. I guess some people know, that some people don’t, but you and I know it," he told the prime minister.
"I'd just like to congratulate you on having done a fantastic job (...) it’s an honour to have worked with you."
Further comments from Mr Trump on that promise of a trade deal.
“There is an opportunity I think, a great opportunity to greatly enlarge that, especially now in light of what's happening, to tremendously enlarge that, make it much bigger, the trading relationship”.
“So we're going to be working on that today, even a little bit tomorrow, and probably into the next couple of weeks.”
BREAKING NEWS
Donald Trump has asked Michael Gove for a private meeting during his state visit, in his biggest interference yet in the Conservative leadership race, writes Rob Merrick.
The US president has reached out to the environment secretary despite his praise for Boris Johnson as a potential “great prime minister” – and despite not holding one-to-one talks with Theresa May.
The move casts doubt on expectations that Mr Trump could formally endorse Mr Johnson. No meeting is yet planned between the pair.
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