Trump praises 'extraordinary' US-UK alliance on state visit

US President Donald Trump has said the US and UK have the "greatest alliance the world has ever known".

In a news conference with Theresa May, he promised a "phenomenal" trade deal after the UK leaves the European Union, but added that "everything is on the table" - including the NHS.

Mrs May said the scope of trade talks had to be agreed by both countries.

Mr Trump also said he turned down a meeting with Jeremy Corbyn, who addressed protesters in Westminster.

The US president met Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage at the US ambassador's residence, Winfield House.

Mr Farage tweeted that it was a "good meeting" and Mr Trump "really believes in Brexit".

'Negative force'

The Labour leader had proposed talks with Mr Trump, saying he was ready to engage with the US president on issues such as climate change, threats to peace and the refugee crisis.

When asked about Mr Corbyn, the US president said he did "not know him, never met him, never spoke to him", adding: "He wanted to meet today or tomorrow and I decided I would not do that."

Mr Trump, who is on day two of his three-day state visit, said Mr Corbyn was a "negative force".

"I really don't like critics as much as I like and respect people who get things done," he said.

As the prime minister and US president paid tribute to the "special relationship", Mr Trump said there was "tremendous potential" in a trade deal after the UK leaves the EU, suggesting it could double or treble trade.

Asked if the NHS would be included in post-Brexit trade talks, Mr Trump said "everything is on the table".

Health Secretary Matt Hancock was among several Conservative leadership candidates hoping to replace Theresa May who said they would not allow the NHS to become part of any trade talks. "Not on my watch," he tweeted.

Mrs May said any trade agreement would follow talks about "what should or should not be in that trade deal for the future".

After speaking of the US and UK's "great relationship", she also said they had also "openly" discussed their differences, such as on climate change, Iran and China.

At the news conference, Mr Trump also said:

• Mrs May had done "a very good job" in getting the Brexit negotiations to this point and said "she's probably a better negotiator than I am"
• Brexit "will happen and it probably should happen" because the UK is "a great, great country and it wants its own identity"
• Protests against him were "very small" and "fake news"
• Both the US and UK are "determined to ensure that Iran never develops nuclear weapons and stops supporting and engaging in terrorism"
• The two countries would reach an agreement to protect intelligence sharing, despite their disagreement over Huawei - the mobile internet infrastructure company which the US says is a risk to national security
• Conservative leadership candidate Boris Johnson would do "a very good job", as would Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, but he "did not know" Michael Gove

During his visit, the US president is set to hold talks with Mr Gove, according to a source close to the environment secretary.

The source told the Press Association "nothing has been fixed yet", but added: "Mr Gove was asked last night by Mr Trump's team if he would be able to meet the president today.

"He said 'yes'."

His leadership rival Mr Johnson, who was also praised by Mr Trump before the visit, had a 20-minute telephone call with the president during the state visit.

Mr Hunt is also due to have a meeting with the US president tomorrow as he seeks the Tory party leadership.

'Inappropriate' visit

Meanwhile, protesters in central London voiced their opposition to President Trump's visit.

Police said more than 3,000 officers have been deployed for the president's visit.

Mr Corbyn - who boycotted the state dinner - was joined at the rally by members of other political parties, including the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party.

But he criticised the US president's attack on Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. "I am proud that our city has a Muslim mayor, that we can chase down Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, any form of racism within our society," he said.

Mr Khan defended his party leader Mr Corbyn's decision to boycott the state dinner at the palace.

He said he felt he and Mr Corbyn shared the view that a "close relationship" with the US president was important.

But he added: "What shouldn't happen is a state banquet and a state visit with the red carpet rolled out. I think it's inappropriate. I think those visits should be reserved for leaders who have done something and deserve that. I think it sends the wrong message to be seen to condone some of the things this president has said and done."

Demonstrations were also planned in Birmingham, Sheffield, Glasgow, Chester, Leicester, Oxford and Exeter.

- BBC