Sadiq Khan has U-turned on a major decision to call on the Government to ban Donald Trump’s UK state visit in 2019 – now saying that he would “absolutely” welcome the US President to London.

He explained that he was keen to have the Potus visit “so he can see some of the misunderstandings he has of our city” including his views on freedom of speech in London, as well as tolerance and respect between different faiths.


At the same time, the London Mayor has defended his historic attacks on the President and told Sky News that his work protecting the city “does mean sometimes saying boo to a goose”.

Khan has previously lambasted Donald Trump with a series of colourful criticism – calling him “ignorant” on Islam, “sexist”, “racist” and a “homophobe”.

He even went so far as to compare his methods in government to those of the “fascists of the 20th century”.

Admitting that “President Trump has fairly and squarely won a second term”, he added: “Let’s judge President Trump on what he does to his second term rather than what he did in his first term.

“My job as the mayor of this great city is to stand up for our values, stand up for our businesses, stand up for our people. And that does mean sometimes saying boo to a goose.”

Khan is set to host talks this morning with ambassadors of all 27 European Union member states in the nation’s capital.

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Yvette Cooper blasts ‘crazy’ online situation that gives more checks for alcohol and cigarettes than ‘lethal weapons’

The Home Secretary has lamented the fact that it is more challenging for children to access cigarettes and scratch cards than knives on the internet.

Yvette Cooper is set to announce a package of measures to help combat knife crime following a report’s publication which revealed a “crazy situation”.

“There’s often more checks for alcohol or for cigarettes or all these different things, and yet these are lethal weapons,” she told The Mirror.

“And so that’s why we have to change the law.”

 UK inflation hits 10-month high of 3% in major blow for Reeves as economy experiences ‘weak growth environment’

Inflation has hit a 10-month high, further above the Bank of England’s two per cent target, official figures have shown.

In the 12 months to January 2025, the consumer prices index (CPI) measure of inflation rose from 2.5 per cent to three per cent.

It follows a surprise drop in the CPI rate in December, when the headline figure fell from 2.6 per cent to 2.5 per cent.

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