logo
When will Donald Trump next visit the UK?

When will Donald Trump next visit the UK?

Yahoo3 days ago
Donald Trump will visit Scotland next week, the White House has confirmed, ahead of a separate state visit to the UK in just under two month's time.
His trip will require a huge policing operation, particularly given that some protesters have said they plan to turn out to make the US president less than welcome.
It will be the first time Trump has visited the country since 2023, when he and his son Eric played a new 18-hole course at his Trump International golf resort in Aberdeenshire.
Speculation had been mounting about a potential visit by the president when Police Scotland confirmed it was in the early stages of planning for such an event.
Here's what we know about Trump's travel plans so far.
When does Trump arrive in Scotland?
Confirming the president's visit at a briefing on Thursday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump would arrive in Scotland on Friday.
He will visit both of his golf courses in the country – Turnberry in Ayrshire and Menie in Aberdeenshire – between 25-29 of July, she told reporters.
It has already been confirmed that Trump will meet with prime minister Sir Keir Starmer while in Aberdeen.
'During the visit, president Trump will meet again with prime minister Starmer to refine the great trade deal that was brokered between the United States and the United Kingdom,' said Leavitt.
The Scottish government said plans were also being put in place for the president to meet first minister John Swinney.
Last week Swinney said it is in "Scotland's interest" for him to meet Trump, adding that he had an "obligation" to "protect and promote" the country, adding that he would use the meeting to discuss tariffs, Gaza and Ukraine.
There had also been speculation the King would host Trump in Scotland at Balmoral or Dumfries House, after Charles wrote a letter to him in February inviting him to a state visit.
However, it is understood with the state visit not long after the proposed meeting both sides decided to wait until the formal gathering.
Are there any Trump protests?
Pro-Palestinian protesters, climate activists and trade unions have teamed up to form a "Stop Trump Coalition" ahead of the president's visit.
The group is planning on getting as close to Trump's Aberdeenshire golf course as possible and drawing a huge insulting message on the beach outside, according to the Sunday Times.
'We anticipate he will be flying in, possibly on a helicopter. We'll make sure from the air that he will see our presence," trade unionist Tommy Campbell told the newspaper.
'We want to make sure that there's no red carpet laid out for him when he comes to Scotland... I can't take away the fact that his mother is Scottish. But he's certainly not Scottish.'
Campbell said the group is confident it will attract hundreds of protesters and is "aiming for more", which is likely to put pressure on an already under resourced Police Scotland.
The Scottish Police Federation, which represents 98% of Police Scotland officers, is reportedly seeking legal advice about the president's visit over concerns the force does not have capacity to manage the event.
General secretary David Kennedy told STV: "We do not have enough police officers in Scotland. Anyone that says we do, I don't know where they get those figures from."
What has Trump said about the UK recently?
The so-called "special relationship" between the UK and the US is arguably often overstated, but Starmer has been working to strengthen ties with his American counterpart since entering office.
During the G7 summit in Canada last month, the two leaders hammered out the outline of a trade agreement that would see tariffs on British cars and slashed from 25% to 10% and a removal of tariffs on aerospace goods.
Speaking at the meeting of world leaders, Trump said: 'The UK is very well protected, you know why? Because I like them. That's their ultimate protection.'
Praising Starmer for his leadership in an interview with the BBC in January, Trump described the prime minister as a "very good guy".
"I may not agree with his philosophy, but I have a very good relationship with him," he added.
Last week Trump waded into British energy policy, telling the BBC that the north-east of Scotland – the oil and gas capital of Europe – should 'get rid of the windmills and bring back the oil'.
There has also been some tension between the UK and key figures of the Trump administration, however, with vice president JD Vance claiming in February that free speech in the country was "in retreat".
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, he also said Brexit voters had been betrayed by elites opening 'the floodgates to millions of unvetted immigrants', the Telegraph reported.
When is Trump's historic state visit?
The president will return to the UK between 17 and 19 September for an unprecedented second state visit.
Other world leaders have visited Britain multiple times, but Trump will be the first elected leader in modern history to be invited for two state visits, following his first in 2019.
Some, including Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, called for the trip to be rescheduled so Trump would visit while Parliament was sitting, giving the president a chance to make a speech to the Houses.
However, earlier this month, Trump told the BBC he didn't want MPs to be forced to return on his account, telling the broadcaster: "I think let them go and have a good time." He said his plans for th visit were to "have a good time and respect King Charles, because he's a great gentleman".
The full details of the visit have not yet been released, but it will include a full ceremonial welcome and a state banquet at St George's Hall in Windsor Castle.
Meanwhile, anti-Trump campaigners have said they plan to stage a mass demonstration in central London on the first day of his trip.
Read more
Scots police federation consider legal action over planning for Donald Trump visit (The Daily Record)
New US Visa fee is introduced - are holidaymakers from the UK impacted? (The London Standard)
Protesters warn JD Vance 'resistance will be waiting' as he prepares for Cotswolds family holiday (The Independent)
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Caisse's $3.2-billion investment in a nuclear project is the kind of deal Canada wants — too bad it's in the U.K.
Caisse's $3.2-billion investment in a nuclear project is the kind of deal Canada wants — too bad it's in the U.K.

Yahoo

time14 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Caisse's $3.2-billion investment in a nuclear project is the kind of deal Canada wants — too bad it's in the U.K.

The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec's $3.2-billion investment in a new nuclear energy facility this week is the kind of deal Canada is hoping the country's largest pensions and institutional investors will step up to fund — but it's happening overseas, in England, alongside the U.K. government. The Quebec's pension giant's 20 per cent stake in the Sizewell C nuclear power station in Suffolk was part of a final funding push to greenlight the project, of which the U.K. government owns 44.9 per cent. Once completed, the country's first new nuclear plant since 1995 is expected to reduce carbon emissions and provide more than 60 years of 'clean, reliable power to the U.K. grid, helping to boost the U.K.'s economy (and) strengthen energy security.' The deal is noteworthy for a couple of reasons: first, it capitalizes on a renewed push for nuclear power as countries search for less carbon-intensive options alongside a more recent desire to rely less on imported energy amid geopolitical tensions and trade upheaval driven by United States president Donald Trump. It also comes in a country where the government's push for more institutional investment in infrastructure is being met with some success, both domestically and abroad. In May, ahead of publication of a final review that could impose investment quotas on large pension providers in the United Kingdom, 17 of them — responsible for managing about 90 per cent of defined contribution pensions — signed an accord pledging to invest 10 per cent of their portfolios in assets to boost the economy by 2030. This will include investments in infrastructure, property and private equity, and half will be 'ringfenced' for the United Kingdom, an allotment projected to inject about £25 billion into the economy. The consortium backing the nuclear project, which is the first direct investment in nuclear by the Caisse, includes French energy operator EDF, British multinational energy and services company Centrica and investment partner Amber Infrastructure. This structure is not unusual for the Caisse, a seasoned global infrastructure investor. But a key draw is undoubtedly the project's financing structure. The U.K. government will foot the majority of that bill — an important consideration for institutional investors because of the potential for cost overruns common in infrastructure projects. Officials told the Canadian Press that the Caisse would begin receiving compensation right away, and that there are agreements with the British government that protect the pension fund's return in the event of overruns or significant delays. The project financing is coming through the U.K.'s National Wealth Fund, which was created by Keir Starmer's Labour government. It replaced the U.K. Infrastructure Bank and is intended to be the government's principal investment vehicle, with the express aim of creating conditions to draw in private investors. 'It's an ambitious project in terms of size and complexity,' said Sebastien Betermier, a finance professor at McGill University, adding that the Caisse is arguably one of the world's most advanced investors when it comes to new infrastructure builds referred to as 'greenfield' projects. He credited the U.K. government's success in forging partnerships with private investors to a strong track record of designing regulatory frameworks for privately-operated businesses and 'de-risking' investments for institutional investors. 'In this particular project, I believe the U.K. government was able to reduce the level of construction risk for investors and provide a dividend yield early on,' said Betermier, who has done extensive research on pensions. 'This project shows it is possible to generate win-win opportunities for governments and pension funds in infrastructure (projects), and hopefully we can learn from it here in Canada.' Past efforts by the Canadian government to include the country's pension funds in major infrastructure projects have largely fizzled, with complaints that the government isn't offering up projects with enough size and scale. Furthermore, potential projects haven't come with sufficient policy assurances or guarantees that the private investors will be adequately compensated for the risks they're taking, particularly if they're being asked to participate in building them. An exception has been the Caisse, which has a dual mandate to support economic development in Quebec alongside meeting investment objectives to pay pension beneficiaries. For example, the Caisse was a major investor in the province's The Réseau express métropolitain (REM) mass transit project, which was beset by cost overruns. The $6.3-billion cost of the Montreal light-rail system presented in 2018 had risen by 26 per cent by 2023. It rose further last year, reaching $8.34 billion. While the project was also backed by Quebec and the federal government, the Caisse was responsible for overruns. However, the pension manager structured the deal to derive revenue from ridership, advertising and real estate development, with a forecasted annual return of eight per cent over 30 years. The Caisse is also unique among Canadian pensions when it comes to energy transition. In 2021, the Quebec pension management organization pledged to divest completely from oil producers, which could have given the Caisse an edge with the U.K. nuclear deal. Plus, in May, CEO Charles Emond told the Financial Times that the Caisse plans to deploy more than £8 billion in the U.K. 'in the coming years,' increasing its exposure in the largest investment destination outside North America by 50 per cent. In the article, Emond praised the 'clarity' of its business environment, the 'ability to execute deals' and its 'welcoming approach' to investors. Perhaps it was not a coincidence that Starmer dispatched Rachel Reeves, the U.K.'s chancellor of the exchequer, to Canada to talk up the investment destination last summer. This was followed by a cross-country tour by U.K. trade officials looking to partner with Canada's pension funds to address, among other things, Britain's decades of underinvestment in infrastructure, with the lowest levels among G7 countries. When it comes to enticing Canada's pension giants to invest more at home, Prime Minister Mark Carney appears to be trying to change the conversation: his focus is on the need to create infrastructure and energy corridors to unify and strengthen Canada's economy and reduce dependence on the United States. During his spring campaign, Carney pledged to use $150 billion of government funds to kickstart private sector investment in projects ranging from housing, defence production and transportation infrastructure to digital innovation and patents, critical minerals and energy. 'Our plan is expected to catalyze $500 billion in new investment over the next five years,' the costed platform said, a similar if slightly less ambitious target than the UK's plan to draw in £3 of private investment for every £1 of government money. But there are a few things the Canadian government has to get right with its 'Maple 8' pensions, including the Caisse, as well as other large institutional investors such as Brookfield Asset Management (which had been a rumoured front-runner to invest in the Sizewell C nuclear power station), if it hopes to replicate what the U.K. government has done. For starters, Canada's infrastructure efforts lack both coordination and a comprehensive evaluation framework, crowding out private investors rather than drawing them in, Betermier said in a research paper on infrastructure banks around the world, published by the C.D. Howe Institute in May. Government efforts since 2016 have led to sprawling commitments of more than $180 billion for infrastructure projects spread over 20 federal departments and agencies, primarily in the form of grants and subsidies, he pointed out, adding that provincial governments, too, have tried to get in the game over the past decade. 'Having multiple grants and investment agencies operating in the same market means there is a high risk of competition between the agencies,' Betermier wrote. 'Coordination between these organizations, along with regular engagement with the private sector, will be critical in order to generate maximum engagement from the private sector.' Canada could also take lessons from other governments, such as using loan guarantees to underwrite the risk of projects, as is done in the European Union's under the InvestEU model. Other infrastructure banks allow projects to move forward with the expectation that private investors will come aboard in the future, while Canada's flagship infrastructure bank needs to secure private investment partnerships for a deal to move forward. Large-scale public-private projects are also hobbled by the lack of a comprehensive evaluation framework for short- and long-run performance, said Betermier, whose paper compared public infrastructure banks in Australia, California, Canada, the Nordic-Baltic region, Scotland and the U.K. The Canada Infrastructure Bank, launched with much fanfare in 2017 and a goal of every government dollar being matched by private sector investment of $3 to $4 — a target later reduced to $1 to $2 — failed to live up to that promise. By 2022, a House of Commons standing committee on transportation, infrastructure and communities recommended abolishing it. A couple of weeks ago, the Parliamentary Budget Officer estimated that the infrastructure bank would disburse $14.9 billion in 2027-28, well short of its $35-billion target. However, the PBO noted that the $1-billion target for Indigenous investments has already been met. Among the many reasons for the struggle in Canada, Betermier said, is that most of the country's infrastructure assets – including airports, seaports, railways, and utilities – remain publicly owned by federal, provincial or municipal governments. This stands in sharp contrast to countries like Australia and the U.K., where Canadian pensions have been, and continue to be, big investors in infrastructure assets that provide diversification, hedges against liability risks, and offer opportunities for high risk-adjusted returns and direct value creation. Canada's big pensions are ready for airport privatization. Are Canadians? 'Not theirs for the taking': Can the Canadian pension model survive a new era of politicization? Another Canadian pension giant puts brakes on China investment 'The lack of infrastructure assets available for sale to (pension and other institutional investors in Canada) has become a hot topic recently because it is one of the reasons why Canadian pension funds have decreased their domestic investments over the past decade,' he wrote. 'For infrastructure banks to successfully catalyze investment in infrastructure from private banks and large institutional investors, Canadian governments must actively support and commit to a private-sector role in the infrastructure market.' • Email: bshecter@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

Trump envoy Witkoff says US cuts short Gaza ceasefire talks as Hamas lacks 'good faith'
Trump envoy Witkoff says US cuts short Gaza ceasefire talks as Hamas lacks 'good faith'

Yahoo

time14 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Trump envoy Witkoff says US cuts short Gaza ceasefire talks as Hamas lacks 'good faith'

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff said Thursday the U.S. is cutting short Gaza ceasefire talks and bringing home its negotiating team from Qatar for consultations after the latest response from Hamas 'shows a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire in Gaza.' 'While the mediators have made a great effort, Hamas does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith," Witkoff said in a statement. 'We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza.' It was unclear what 'alternative options" the U.S. was considering. The White House had no immediate comment, and the State Department did not immediately respond to messages. A breakthrough in talks on a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas has eluded Trump's Republican administration for months as conditions worsen in Gaza. The territory recently had its deadliest day yet for aid-seekers in over 21 months of war, with at least 85 Palestinians killed while trying to reach food Sunday. The sides have held weeks of talks in Qatar, reporting small signs of progress but no major breakthroughs. Officials have said a main sticking point is the redeployment of Israeli troops after any ceasefire takes place. Witkoff said the U.S. is 'resolute' in seeking an end to the conflict in Gaza and said it was 'a shame that Hamas has acted in this selfish way.' Earlier Thursday, Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu's office recalled his country's negotiating team back to Israel in light of Hamas' response. In a brief statement, the prime minister's office expressed its appreciation for the efforts of Witkoff and mediators Qatar and Egypt, but it gave no further details. The deal under discussion is expected to include a 60-day ceasefire in which Hamas would release 10 living hostages and the remains of 18 others in phases in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Aid supplies would be ramped up and the two sides would hold negotiations on a lasting truce. The talks have been bogged down over competing demands for ending the war. Hamas says it will only release all hostages in exchange for a full Israeli withdrawal and end to the war. Israel says it will not agree to end the war until Hamas gives up power and disarms, a condition the militant group rejects. The State Department said earlier in the week that Witkoff would be traveling to the Middle East for talks, but U.S. officials later said that Witkoff would instead travel to Europe. It was unclear if he was holding meetings there Thursday. ___ Associated Press writers Josef Federaman and Julia Frankel in Jerusalem contributed to this report.

Trump envoy Witkoff says US cutting short Gaza ceasefire talks, bringing home negotiating team
Trump envoy Witkoff says US cutting short Gaza ceasefire talks, bringing home negotiating team

Hamilton Spectator

time15 minutes ago

  • Hamilton Spectator

Trump envoy Witkoff says US cutting short Gaza ceasefire talks, bringing home negotiating team

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff said Thursday the U.S. is cutting short Gaza ceasefire talks and bringing home its negotiating team from Qatar for consultations after the latest response from Hamas 'shows a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire in Gaza.' 'While the mediators have made a great effort, Hamas does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith,' Witkoff said. 'We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza.' He said it was 'a shame that Hamas has acted in this selfish way' and that the U.S. is 'resolute' in seeking an end to the conflict in Gaza. A breakthrough in talks on a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas has eluded the Trump administration for months as conditions worsen in Gaza . The territory recently had its deadliest day yet for aid-seekers in over 21 months of war, with at least 85 Palestinians killed while trying to reach food Sunday. The sides have held weeks of talks in Qatar, reporting small signs of progress but no major breakthroughs. Officials have said a main sticking point is the redeployment of Israeli troops after any ceasefire takes place. Earlier Thursday, Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu's office recalled his country's negotiating team back to Israel in light of Hamas' response. In a brief statement, the prime minister's office expressed its appreciation for the efforts of Witkoff and mediators Qatar and Egypt, but it gave no further details. The deal under discussion is expected to include a 60-day ceasefire in which Hamas would release 10 living hostages and the remains of 18 others in phases in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Aid supplies would be ramped up and the two sides would hold negotiations on a lasting truce. The talks have been bogged down over competing demands for ending the war. Hamas says it will only release all hostages in exchange for a full Israeli withdrawal and end to the war. Israel says it will not agree to end the war until Hamas gives up power and disarms, a condition the militant group rejects. The State Department said earlier in the week that Witkoff would be traveling to the Middle East for talks, but U.S. officials later said that Witkoff would instead travel to Europe. It was unclear if he was holding meetings there Thursday. ___ Associated Press writers Josef Federaman and Julia Frankel in Jerusalem contributed to this report. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store