Donald Trump's state visit used as 'weapon to keep the US on side after Brexit'

Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK is being used as a ‘weapon’ in Britain’s campaign to keep the US on side after Brexit, according to one political commentator.

The President arrives in London on Monday 3 June for a three-day visit at the invitation of the Queen, although in reality decisions to invite heads of state are made by the Foreign Office and Government.

Political broadcaster and commentator Daisy McAndrews told Yahoo UK’s The Royal Box the President’s state visit comes at a crucial time for relations between America and Britain.

She said: “These state visits are described as a sort of diplomatic weapon that's launched.

“The Foreign Office and the Government want to keep those relations as good as possible with America particularly at the time of Brexit.

“We're desperate to keep any relations with the States and any future trade negotiations as healthy as possible.

“This is all part of that diplomacy."

The President is due to hold talks with Prime Minister Theresa May and a number of business leaders on the second day of his visit.

Mrs May will officially step aside the week after Mr Trump’s visit after announcing her resignation plans in an emotional speech last Friday.

Her imminent departure and Mr Trump’s previous criticism of Mrs May’s Brexit negotiations are likely to overshadow the talks.

In an awkward moment during his 2018 visit to the UK, the President praised leadership hopeful Boris Johnson while standing beside a stoney-faced Mrs May.

He said today he ‘may meet’ Mr Johnson during his state visit, and is also considering talks with Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage.

The move would infuriate the Conservative Government, who are still recovering from a humiliating defeat at the hands of Mr Farage’s new party in the European Parliamentary elections.

Britain is due to leave the European Union on 31 October at the latest, and will no longer be part of the EU’s free trade deals as a result.

Brexiteers argue leaving the union, along with the Customs Union and Single Market, will allow the Government to strike its own free trade deals with external countries including the US.

Critics say striking a deal with the US would mean the UK has to lower food standards and risks flooding the market with cheap, low-quality imports.