Protests begin ahead of Donald Trump’s UK visit

Protests begin in London ahead of Donald Trump’s visit to the UK this week.

US President Donald Trump, right, with British Prime Minister Theresa May.

A small group of protesters picketed the front of the United States embassy in London overnight in the first of several rallies expected throughout the city to coincide with Donald Trump’s visit this week.

Less than 30 protesters turned up for the event, hosted by Labour-aligned community group Momentum Wandsworth — a far cry from the tens of thousands expected to gather in central London on Friday, the day after Mr Trump arrives in the UK.

The centrepiece of Friday’s rally will be a giant balloon of a “baby Trump” that London Mayor Sadiq Khan gave permission to be flown through the city.

Protests have also been organised at various locations the president is expected to visit during his whirlwind trip to England and Scotland.

Activists hope to fly the Trump blimp over Parliament House in London during the President’s visit this week. Picture: Leo Murray

Organisers of the Wandsworth rally yesterday reminded locals of remarks Mr Trump made about the south London suburb recently after he disapproved of the moving of the embassy to the area.

He had been due to personally open the embassy but declined after discovering it had been moved from its previous location at Grosvenor Square in central London.

“In the UK, in London, we had the best site in all of London. The best site,” he told his supporters in Michigan in April. “They go out and they buy a horrible location. And they build a new embassy.

“That’s the good news. The bad news is it cost over a billion dollars.”

Wandsworth councillor Aydin Dikerdem yesterday said he had taken Mr Trump’s criticism personally. “It’s crucial that London stands up and says the politics of Donald Trump is to welcome in this nation,” he said. “I have a bit of a personal dog in this fight: I’m the councillor for this area, I’ve been told that this place is off location, that it’s a lousy spot, that this part of London isn’t important.”

Mr Dikerdem encouraged the crowd to turn attend the major rally on Friday to shout down Mr Trump’s policies.

“It’s going to send a message to (prime minister) Theresa May as well,” he said.

“Theresa May is on the rocks and is looking for allies and Donald Trump wants to be one of her allies.”