BORIS Johnson has flown to New York for meetings with senior members of Donald Trump's team just hours after Theresa May labelled the US President-elect's comments about groping women "unacceptable".
The Foreign Secretary was meeting Mr Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and the President-elect's chief strategist Steve Bannon as the UK Government stepped up efforts to forge links with the incoming administration.
Mrs May, who is expected to meet the next occupant of the White House in the spring, said she has had two "very good, positive" conversations with Mr Trump.
But challenged about the 2005 tape recording of Mr Trump bragging to TV host Billy Bush about women and how he could "grab them by the pussy" because of his celebrity status, Mrs May was blunt in her response.
Asked "as a woman" how she felt about the comments, Mrs May replied: "That's unacceptable but in fact Donald Trump himself has said that and has apologised for it.
"But the relationship that the UK has with the United States is about something much bigger than just the relationship between the two individuals as president and prime minister.
"That's important, but actually we have a long-standing special relationship with the United States.
"It's based on shared values and it is a relationship where, actually in the UK, we feel we can say to the US if we disagree with something that they are doing," she explained.
The status of the special relationship between the two long-time allies has been the subject of intense scrutiny since Mr Trump won the US presidential election in November.
That interest has been partly fuelled by the president-elect's apparent close relationship with the former Ukip leader Nigel Farage and the fact that both Mrs May and Mr Johnson have been critical of the outspoken property tycoon's comments in the past.
During the controversy following the President-elect's comments about parts of London being no-go areas for the police, Mr Johnson said: "The only reason I wouldn't go to some parts of New York is the real risk of meeting Donald Trump."
Mr Johnson is not expected to meet Mr Trump on this hastily-arranged visit, which comes weeks after talks between the president-elect's team and Mrs May's closest advisers Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill.
Mr Trump has tweeted that he was looking forward to meeting the Prime Minister in Washington in the spring, describing long-time US ally Britain as "very special".
A date for the meeting is yet to be revealed but it is expected to come within weeks of Mr Trump's inauguration on January 20, possibly as early as February.
On Sky News' Sophy Ridge On Sunday, Mrs May said: "I have had two very good, positive conversations with Donald Trump already - I think we are going to look to build on that relationship for the benefit of both the US and the UK.
"That is something that is optimistic and positive for the UK for the future."
Mr Trump's election and his praise for Russian president Vladimir Putin has also cast doubt on the future of Nato, in particular whether the US will continue to uphold a commitment to come to the aid of allies if they are invaded.
But the PM suggested the US remained committed to the military alliance.
"The Article Five of Nato says that we do go to the support of any Nato country that has military action against it."
She added: "Sometimes people think that there is going to be a change in the American approach to Nato. From the conversations I have had, America remains fully committed to Nato as we do.
"We are already taking some steps to show the seriousness with which Nato considers its responsibilities. There will be UK troops on exercise in Estonia this year."
Mr Johnson's US visit will also see him meet key figures in Washington including Speaker Paul Ryan and senators Bob Corker and Mitch McConnell.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: "Following the successful meeting last month between the Prime Minister's Chiefs of Staff and President-elect Donald Trump's team, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is undertaking a short visit to the US for meetings with close advisers to the president-elect and senior Congressional leaders.
"The discussions will be focused on UK-US relations and other foreign policy matters."
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