The Trump baby blimp is the ultimate symbol of Britain’s commitment to free speech

Sadiq Khan gave the green light for the inflatable to take flight during Trump’s UK visit

Over 10,000 people signed a petition asking for the inflatable to be allowed to fly (PA)

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has delighted protesters by giving permission for a six-metre orange inflatable depicting Donald Trump to be flown over London during the US president’s “working” visit next week.

During the three days, he’ll meet the Queen, dine with business leaders at Blenheim Palace and spend time at Chequers.

Will Trump be able to avoid looking skywards on Thursday during his sole day in the capital?

The rotund bouncy baby is wearing a cute nappy and clutches a phone in one of its tiny hands.

Mayor Khan has fallen out with Trump in the past over the president’s inopportune comments about terrorism, so there’s no love lost there.

More than 10,000 people signed a petition asking for the inflatable to be allowed to fly, and the cost was raised through crowd funding. What better way to show that England is the home of free speech?

Right-wing commentators are appalled – one says the “carnival of resistance” planned by the Together Against Trump campaign is “pointless” and will “achieve nothing”. Nigel Farage reckons the Trump baby “makes London look ridiculous” and is “the biggest insult ever to a sitting US president”.

In fact, inflatable Trump is highly appropriate – remember Thomas Rowlandson and James Gillroy? – we’re world leaders at satire.

I can’t help thinking the Queen (in Windsor Castle) will be having a good laugh about inflatable Trump. Did she ever complain about her Spitting Image puppet? In fact, did any politician of any note?

The biggest problem with Trump baby is that Donald might like it and ask to take it home.