President Donald Trump has warned he might not share vital intelligence with the UK if Jeremy Corbyn becomes Prime Minister.
The US president says he would consider not passing information between the US and UK if the Labour leader moves in to No 10 without meeting him.
In an interview with the Sunday Times Mr Trump said he needed to ‘get to know’ Mr Corbyn before deciding whether to share his country’s most sensitive secrets.
He added the Labour leader was ‘making a mistake’ by failing to make America a friend.
The US and the UK’s military and intelligence agencies work closely together.
‘I would have to know him. I would have to meet. I don’t know him but I would certainly — before I would answer that question I would have to get to know him a little bit,’ Mr Trump said.
The US president says he would consider not passing information between the US and UK if the Labour leader moves in to No 10 without meeting him
Today members of the public had to pass through security fences in Regents Park, erected around the residence of the US Ambassador to the UK, Winfield House
Concrete crash barriers and steel security fencing enclosed police at the site this afternoon
The Labour leader refused to attend tomorrow evening’s state dinner – but the US president says he is ‘not offended’ by the decision.
It could have an impact on the Five Eyes intelligence sharing network that connects spies from America, the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The US president is also expected to ask the British Government to step away from plans to involve technology giant Huawei in the UK’s 5G expansion.
He said: ‘Look, national security is so important, so we all have to be very careful together. And the UK understands that very well. Very well.’
It comes as Donald Trump urged the British Government to involve Nigel Farage in Brexit negotiations with the EU.
The President hailed the Brexit Party leader as a ‘very smart person’ who could have bolstered Theresa May’s botched deal that she failed to push through Parliament.
On the eve of his state visit to the UK, his criticism of the Prime Minister’s decision to omit Mr Farage from talks with Brussels will likely put noses out of joint in Downing Street.
Tourists take photographs as a US flag hangs above them from Horse Guards Parade in London today
In an interview with the Sunday Times Mr Trump said he needed to ‘get to know’ Mr Corbyn before deciding whether to share his country’s most sensitive secrets
Security preparations are underway as teams prepare for the US presidents arrive tomorrow morning
High fences have been placed around the edge of Winfield House, where Donald Trump will be staying in London from tomorrow
Armed guards were on patrol at the gates of Winfield House this morning – as the president’s security team ensure his safety
Donald Trump has sensationally urged the British government to involve Nigel Farage in Brexit negotiations with the EU
Mr Farage struck up a friendship with Mr Trump in 2016 when he endorsed his Presidential campaign and even spoke at one of his Mississippi rallies
‘I like Nigel a lot. He has a lot to offer. He is a very smart person. They won’t bring him in,’ he told the Sunday Times.
‘Think how well they would do if they did. They just haven’t figured that out yet.’
Mr Farage struck up a friendship with Mr Trump in 2016 when he endorsed his Presidential campaign and spoke at one of his Mississippi rallies.
And Mr Trump – a former businessman who prides himself on his ability to strike deals – said that if he were tasked with leading negotiations he would ‘walk away’ if he could not broker the agreement he wanted.
He also suggested that if Mrs May had brought Mr Farage to the table earlier she may have been able to take a withdrawal agreement back to the Commons which MPs could swallow.
The President hailed the Brexit Party leader as a ‘very smart person’ who could have bolstered Theresa May’s botched deal which she failed to push through Parliament
His branding of Mr Farage’s exclusion as a ‘mistake’ by the Prime Minister comes a day after revelations he waded into the Tory leadership contest by seemingly backing Boris Johnson.
And tonight, it emerged ministers and courtiers fear President Trump could embarrass the Queen by publicly backing Brexit in front of her at a Buckingham Palace banquet tomorrow.
Full details of Trump’s state visit to Britain have now been revealed, including all the royals he will meet over the three days
Officials involved in the planning of the controversial State visit are braced for Mr Trump to use his banquet address to heap praise on the UK’s decision to quit the EU, despite the Royal Family‘s scrupulous attempts to remain above the political fray.
Palace sources last night insisted the Queen would be ‘more than capable’ of dealing with such controversy and Foreign Office insiders said they had not broached the subject with Washington.
A Whitehall source said: ‘We’ve learnt that asking them to steer the President off a subject tends to have the opposite effect.’
Roads leading towards Winfield House have been cordoned off from today to ensure any security threats are lowered
A sign on the metal fencing placed around Winfield House reads: ‘Do not enter. A police security operation is taking place. This includes armed patrols, dog patrols, monitored CCTV and other measures’
Aides fear that President Trump will breach protocol by endorsing Brexit in front of the Queen (pictured with the Queen in 2018)
And a Palace insider added: ‘We are not in the business of telling a foreign leader what they can and cannot say for political reasons.’
However, such an intervention by Mr Trump would cause fury, given the lengths to which the Palace has gone to distance the Queen from the divisive debate about Britain’s relationship with the EU.
When one newspaper accused the Queen of supporting Brexit in 2016, the Palace made a furious and unprecedented complaint to the Press regulator.
Comments about Brexit would mark a second breach of protocol by the President following his unusual endorsement of Boris Johnson to be the next Prime Minister – before Theresa May has officially resigned.
A detailed plan of what Mr Trump will do during his state visit to the UK. He is expected to meet the Queen, Theresa May, and attend a lavish state banquet at Buckingham Palace
And after his diplomatic gaffe of backing the current Tory leadership frontrunner, Mr Trump is poised to anger Downing Street further by meeting Brexit Party boss Nigel Farage.
Mr Trump last week described him as a ‘friend’ and it is thought the pair could be guests at a dinner hosted by the President on Tuesday evening at the official London residence of the US Ambassador. Spokesmen for both men said last night they had yet to receive such an invitation.
In a separate development, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt was forced to deny that he had pleaded with Mr Trump to endorse his bid for No 10, after the President said in an interview that some of Mr Johnson’s leadership rivals had sought his blessing.
A Foreign Office source said that while it was true that Mr Hunt was in regular contact with Mr Trump’s son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner, it was ‘categorically untrue’ that he had sought an endorsement.
Palace sources insist that the Queen will be able to cope with anything that Mr Trump might say. The president is a noted fan of Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage
Foreign Office insiders said they had not broached the subject of the president’s speech with Washington
Jeremy Corbyn condemned Mr Trump’s intervention in the leadership contest. ‘President Trump’s attempt to decide who will be Britain’s next Prime Minister is an entirely unacceptable interference in our country’s democracy,’ said the Labour leader, who has snubbed an invite to tomorrow’s State banquet.
Mr Trump responded to the Labour leader’s decision by saying Mr Corbyn was ‘making a mistake’ in not attending because as a potential future Prime Minister ‘he would want to get along with the United States’.
Commons Speaker John Bercow is also boycotting the banquet.
The Government last night pleaded with the public to welcome Mr Trump to London, arguing that ‘the special relationship is generational, not one person’.
Home Office Minister Ben Wallace said: ‘The relationships are daily and long-developed relationships. You don’t unpick that. The special relationship is not Presidents and Prime Ministers.’
The US president also praised hard Brexiteer Boris Johnson, and it looks as if he will meet with the Foreign Secretary during his visit
Arriving on June 3, President Trump will be welcomed by the Queen at Buckingham Palace (left). The president will also have tea with the the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall (right) at Clarence House
Last night, President Trump’s intervention sparked calls for the Queen to scrap tomorrow’s banquet, to punish him.
Liberal Democrat MP Sir Ed Davey, a former Cabinet Minister now bidding to replace Sir Vince Cable as his party’s leader, said: ‘The Queen would be perfectly entitled to cancel Trump’s dinner, given he’s insulted the Duchess of Sussex and interfered in the selection of our next Prime Minister at a time of national crisis.
‘We don’t need friends like that.’
Sir Ed was referring to interview comments Mr Trump made describing the American-born Duchess of Sussex as ‘nasty’ over comments she made in 2016 threatening to move to Canada if he became President.
Six glasses each, four menus and 12 pipers
President Trump and his family will be wined and dined by the Queen and other Royals tomorrow night, along with 170 guests picked for their cultural, diplomatic or economic links to the US, in the opulent Buckingham Palace Ballroom (pictured right).
Former Buckingham Palace chef Darren McGrady described such events as ‘military operations’, with menus planned months in advance. All food will be the ‘best of British’ but there is likely to be a nod to Trump’s Scottish heritage – with perhaps traditional shortbread or salmon.
The exquisite menu served on priceless silver-gilt dinner plates and cutlery from the Grand Service made for George IV, take three days to lay at the vast U-shaped table, each place setting exactly 18in from the next, checked for precision with special measuring sticks.
Staff members lay the State Banquet table, in the ballroom at Buckingham Palace, London, ahead of the summer opening of the royal house to the public
The exquisite menu is served on priceless silver-gilt dinner plates and cutlery from the Grand Service made for George IV
Chefs will have been given some rough guidelines, and then prepared four menus. These will have been given to the Queen, who decides which she wants.
Each guest has six glasses – for water, red and white wines, a champagne toast, a dessert wine and port, all embossed with the Royal crest.
Nineteen serving stations are set up around the walls of the room, each manned by four staff – each station linked to a traffic light system to co-ordinate the serving of courses.
The footmen must make sure every chair is exactly the same distance from the table and each glass is the same distance from the front edge of the table.
Detailed diagrams are used to illustrate the serving plans and a list of special instructions sets out any dietary requirements and requests for the Royals and other guests.
Each guest has six glasses – for water, red and white wines, a champagne toast, a dessert wine and port, all embossed with the Royal crest
President Trump will be accompanied by First Lady Melania and four of his five children – Donald Jnr, Eric, Ivanka and Tiffany.
Just before the banquet, members of the Royal family will be lined up in the White Drawing Room to be introduced and shake hands with Mr Trump and the First Lady. The Queen and the President will then make their way into the Ballroom side-by-side.
Two silver gilt three-branch candelabra, each cast as a fruiting vine stem, will adorn the table.
The Queen will be seated next to Mr Trump at the top end of the table, along with his wife, Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall. Other Royals will be spread between the guests.
Two silver gilt three-branch candelabra, each cast as a fruiting vine stem, will adorn the table
Four large silver gilt scallop shell soup tureens, each surmounted by a triton blowing a conch shell horn
Speeches start at 8pm when the Queen and Mr Trump will both formally address the gathering and propose toasts to one another, followed by the playing of the national anthems.
A string orchestra usually provides the musical backdrop and the end of the banquet is signalled by the arrival of 12 pipers in a procession around the room, a tradition begun by Queen Victoria.
The dress code is white tie and tiaras. Members of the Royal family wear sashes and badges known as orders if they have been given them in recognition of Royal service.
Four large silver gilt scallop shell soup tureens, each surmounted by a triton blowing a conch shell horn, are some of the most striking pieces in the Grand Service.
Sarah Ferguson and Princess Eugenie BOTH post smiling family pictures and reveal how ‘proud’ they are after they watch the Duke of York rehearse for Trooping of the Colour
By Sarah Finely for MailOnline
Princess Eugenie and her sister Beatrice played happy families with their mother Sarah Ferguson yesterday as they watched Prince Andrew rehearse for the Trooping of the Colour.
Eugenie, 29, took to Instagram to post a series of photos of her father with full uniform on and also a family photo of them – while claiming how proud she was of him while he performed his duties as colonel of the Grenadier guards.
She also posted a picture of her, her mother and Beatrice watching their father while he rehearsed.
While The Duchess of York posted a series of similar pictures – with fans hoping that it meant that ‘marriage’ was back on the cards for the couple.
She also posted a picture of her, her mother and Beatrice watching their father while he rehearsed
Sarah Ferguson, Beatrice and Eugenie watch on as the Duke of York rehearsed yesterday
Eugenie said on the post: ‘Today, the Yorks were really proud of Papa @hrhthedukeofyork as Colonel of the @grenadier.guards
‘He reviewed the parade and took the salute at the Colonel’s Review. The Grenadier Guards will troop their colour next week in front of their colonel-in-chief, Her Majesty The Queen.
Sarah Ferguson, who divorced Prince Andrew in 1996 after 10 years of marriage, stood beside her ex-husband in a navy blue outfit and a hat.
Beatrice also donned a hat and paired it with a mid length black and white dress, while Eugenie dressed more for the weather with a yellow short sleeved dress.
Prince Andrew yesterday rehearsing for the Trooping of the colours next week – Eugenie said how proud she was of him
The Duchess of York also posted a series of similar photos to her Ingram account later in the day saying how proud she was of the duke
Posing as a family, despite the couple splitting over twenty years ago, they all looked happy to be together.
The Duchess of York also posted a series of similar photos to her Instagram account later in the day saying how proud she was of the duke.
Royal fans were excited for the reunion with one commenting: ‘Wonderful photos – now all you have to do is get married again please!!’
Prince Andrew rides on horseback as he salutes troops during the Colonel’s Review which is is the second of two rehearsals ahead of Trooping The Colour
The Duchess of York, 59, was seen standing next to her former husband Prince Andrew, as she talked to clergy before entering the chapel
Soldiers parade during the Colonel’s Review on the mall in London just before the Duke of York, Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, salutes them
Another replied: ‘I’ve never seen a non-couple look so much like a couple like these two. Go on, time to remarry!!!!’
A third said: ‘Thanks so much for sharing these photos !!! You all look so great and so happy!!! Such a wonderful family. I’d just love to see you and the Duke remarry or at least officially get back together.
‘You two are soul mates and in my eyes The Greatest Royal Love Story. You two are meant to be.’
Last month the couple made a rare public appearance together after denying romance rumours – during the royal wedding of Lady Gabriella Windsor and Thomas Kingston.
Soldiers and musicians take to the streets of London to rehearse at the Colonel’s Review on June 1 ahead of the Queen’s official birthday
The Household Division take their position as rehearsals commence for the Trooping the Colour for the Colonel’s Review
The pair have remained extremely close, sharing Andrew’s official residence, Royal Lodge at Windsor, and buying a luxury ski chalet in Verbier. But Fergie has denied there is anything more to their relationship than being friends.
Yesterday two guardsmen had to be helped to their feet after collapsing in sweltering heats during rehearsals for the Trooping the Colour ceremony.
The Household Division soldiers, who had been taking part in a second round of rehearsals ahead the Queen’s official birthday event next week on the Horse Guards Parade in London, had to be lifted to their feet after fainting in the capital’s heat.
As the troops, who were dressed in full uniform, including a bearskin hat, took position the two guardsmen were seen falling to their knees as temperatures began to hit 77F in central London.
With their colleagues maintaining their position as the rehearsals came to a standstill, three comrades were seen rushing to one of the soldiers aid, removing his heavy bearskin hat and trying to bring him to his feet.
