Trump to visit UK in June as protests grow louder

US President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit the UK in June, according to London's Metropolitan Police chief.

Speaking to LBC Radio on Thursday, MPS commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe warned that the state visit would cost "quite a bit of money" as he promised increased security in order to ensure the event is successful.

"I think President Trump is coming around June, that's the plan," the police chief said. "No doubt we'll put a lot of officers out there and keep them safe and make sure everything goes well. If there is a few thousand officers, it's likely to be quite a bit of money."

Politicians in the UK have reacted angrily to Prime Minister Theresa May's decision to invite the President to the country and speak in the Houses of Parliament.

In an unprecedented move, Commons Speaker John Bercow said that the signing of an executive order to ban immigrants from seven predominantly Muslim countries strengthened his opposition to an address from Trump.

Members of parliament have come out in support of Bercow, whose role traditionally dictates that he remains impartial on political issues. However, the Speaker told the Commons that his stance is based on his opposition to "racism and sexism".

"Before the imposition of the migrant ban I would myself have been strongly opposed to an address by President Trump in Westminster Hall," Bercow said.

"After the imposition of the migrant ban by President Trump I am even more strongly opposed to an address by President Trump in Westminster Hall."

PETITION

A petition to prevent Trump from making a state visit has already gathered close to 1.9 million signatures, leading to a parliamentary debate on the issue on 20 February.

Trump's run to the White House in 2016 caused a stir in the political realm and in financial markets, and since his inauguration his actions have been heavily scrutinised, particularly his attempts to block access to the US from citizens of Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Libya and Yemen.

The order has since been temporarily quashed after a legal challenge from Washington state, which Trump's administration has appealed.