POLITICIANS and campaigners are already planning to hold mass demonstrations when Donald Trump finally arrives in the UK for the first time as US President this July.
President Trump has caused controversy on a range of subjects from erroneously linking a rise in recorded crime in England and Wales to the “spread of radical Islamic terror” and retweeting inflammatory videos from the Far Right extremist group Britain First to criticising the London Mayor Sadiq Khan over the London Bridge terror attack and claiming Britain’s NHS is "going broke and not working".
Jo Swinson, the deputy Liberal Democrat leader, said: “Protesting against a man with dangerous, misogynistic and racist views is our responsibility. It is our opportunity to stand in solidarity with all the people he has abused and denigrated.
“When he comes to the UK, the Liberal Democrats will be front and centre of the protests,” declared the East Dunbartonshire MP.
READ MORE: US President Donald Trump should visit Scotland, not London, insist right-wing groups
Kate Allen, Amnesty International UK's Director, said: "When Donald Trump arrives on these shores, we and thousands of our supporters will very definitely be making our voices heard.
"In the 15 months of his presidency, we've seen a deeply disturbing human rights roll-back, including the discriminatory travel ban, his reckless announcement on Jerusalem, and harmful policies on refugees, women's rights and climate change.”
She added: "Since moving into the White House, Mr Trump has shown an impatience bordering on intolerance toward peaceful protests, the media and even the democratic process itself. So his visit to Britain will be an important opportunity to underline the importance of free speech and the right to protest.”
But not everyone responded to the news of the Trump visit with alarm. Theresa May said she was “looking forward to welcoming President Trump” to the UK while Boris Johnson said it was "fantastic news" that he was making the trip "at last" and that it would be the "greatest visit ever".
READ MORE: Trump visit to uk confirmed for Friday July 13
Earlier this year, Mr Trump cancelled a planned trip to London to open the new US embassy in Vauxhall, complaining the move to an "off location" south of the Thames had been a "bad deal".
But it is surmised that his decision might have been driven more by a fear of protests in the UK capital.
Certainly, it is thought the prospect of widespread demonstrations is also believed to have played a part in the postponement of a state visit mooted for 2017.
With the possibility of protests in mind, a group of Conservative think-tanks, which support the President - the Bow Group, Bruges Group, Parliament Street and the Freedom Association, as well as the Chairman of Republicans Overseas Scotland and a contributor to ThinkScotland - suggested he might avoid London and confine his visit to Scotland.
In a letter to him, they recommended that he should focus his trip on his "ancestral home" of Scotland, including a meeting with the Queen at Balmoral.
They said: "As you know, the Royal Estate of Balmoral Castle sits in Scotland's Cairgorms National Park, thus allowing you to make a full state visit as the guest of the Her Majesty the Queen.
"Scotland and the North of England also offer a variety of locations where you would be able to speak directly to ordinary British people and witness the true level of support that exists for you and the special relationship between the US and the UK."
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Ben Harris-Quinney, Chairman of the Bow Group, explained: "A visit to London by the President is likely to draw major protests, crime and disorder, and we do not wish to see Britain or President Trump embarrassed by this.
"It is important that the people of the United States and its Government know there are many in Britain who strongly support the President and the special relationship and wish for President Trump to be afforded the warmest of welcomes. Sadly, that will not be the case in London."
Mr Trump, whose mother was born on the Isle of Lewis, made frequent visits to Scotland before becoming President.
His last trip came during the presidential campaign in June 2016 when he visited his golf resort at Turnberry in Ayrshire.
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