UK relationship with US 'bigger than any PM' - Downing St
Theresa May's spokesman says the US is the UK's closest ally as she prepares to host Donald Trump weeks before leaving office.
Tuesday 28 May 2019 15:34, UK
Britain's relationship with the US is "bigger than any prime minister", Downing St has insisted as Theresa May prepares to host the American president, in her final weeks in office.
Donald Trump is to visit the UK between 3-5 June, just days before Mrs May ends her tenure as Conservative Party leader, triggering the race for her successor.
Her official spokesman said Mrs May was still looking forward to the visit.
He said: "The US is our closest ally and she looks forward to taking the opportunity to further the deep and special relationship which we have."
Acknowledging that news of her stepping down will be discussed, he added "as we have always said, this is a very deep and longstanding relationship between our two countries which is obviously bigger than any prime minister, or indeed president".
It comes as a YouGov survey found a majority of Britons back the controversial US leader's UK visit.
The last time Mr Trump was in Britain his engagements had to be moved away from central London amid protests against the visit.
More demonstrations are expected this year, but a poll by YouGov found 46% of people want the visit to go ahead and 40% want it to be cancelled.
It is a narrower margin of support compared with last year's figures when 50% backed it and 37% did not want him to come.
YouGov polled 2,106 adults and found an increase in the number of people who think the Queen should meet Mr Trump again.
Last year, 49% of people thought she should not meet the US leader, and this year, 42% said she should stay away. Support for her hosting him rose from 35% to 41% in this year's poll.
However there's been a drop in support for the UK government working with the US over the last two years according to the pollsters.
In 2017, 51% said ministers should work with the president, but that has dropped to 40% of people who feel the same way now.
In 2017, 32% of people thought ministers should keep their distance, a figure which has risen to 41%.
Mr Trump and his wife Melania will be welcomed by the Queen and joined by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall in the garden at Buckingham Palace on 3 June.
Prince Harry will join the private palace lunch but his wife Meghan will be at home with their newborn son Archie.
A state banquet will be held that evening.
Mr Trump is said to be bringing his daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner, who are both advisers, as well as the president's three other grown-up children Donald Jr, Eric and Tiffany.
On the second day of his visit Mr Trump will have talks with Mrs May and they will hold a press conference.
Speaking last week after Mrs May announced her departure date Mr Trump said: "I feel badly for Theresa.
"I like her very much. She is a good woman. She worked very hard.
"She is very strong."
However last time he was in the UK, he spoke of support for Boris Johnson, now a leadership contender, and has previously said Mrs May ignored his advice on negotiating Brexit.
Mrs May will stop being Conservative leader on 7 June, with the formal race for her successor starting the week after on 10 June.
However she will stay on as prime minister while her party decides who should replace her.
The party estimates the new leader will be in place before the summer recess at the end of July.