Theresa May hails upcoming meeting with President Trump as a sign of the continued ‘special relationship’ but says she WILL speak honestly to him
The Prime Minister said she was determined to have positive talks with the new US leader when she flies out to meet him later this week
THERESA May has hailed her upcoming meeting with President Trump as a sign of the continued strength of the "special relationship" between the UK and the US.
Speaking at PMQs today, the Prime Minister said she would not be afraid to speak frankly to the new President, and she was determined to have positive talks with him when she flies out later this week.
Mrs May told Jeremy Corbyn she was glad to be meeting the new US leader less than a week after he took office.
"I'm pleased that I am able to meet President Trump so early in his administration, that is a sign of the strength of the special relationship," she said today.
She went on, describing it as "a special relationship on which he and I intend to build".
Mr Corbyn congratulated the tens of thousands of people who marched in Britain last weekend to highlight women's rights and express their concerns about Mr Trump's "misogyny".
He also asked for assurances that American companies would not be allowed "to take over parts of our NHS or public services."
But Mrs May hit back, and stressed that she would speak openly and honestly with Mr Trump.
"I am not afraid to speak frankly to a president of the United States, I am able to do that because we have that special relationship, a special relationship that he would never have with the US," she roared.
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And former Labour leader Ed Miliband popped up to ask Mrs May whether she would seek to persuade President Trump of the importance of abiding by the Paris climate change agreement.
Mr Miliband said that as the first global leader to meet Mr Trump, she carries a "huge responsibility... in the tone that she sets".
He asked her to note that "climate change is not a hoax invented by the Chinese".
Mrs May refused to commit to bringing up the issue, but said: "I would hope that all parties would continue to ensure that that Climate Change agreement is put into practise."
She was later pushed by Tory MP Andrew Tyrie to under "no circumstances" be pressured into being a part of torture regimes under the new administration.
He said: "Will the PM make clear that under no circumstances will she permit Britain to be dragged into facilitating that torture, as we were after September 11?"
Mrs May hit back firmly, but did not promise to bring up the issue: "We have a very clear position or torture... we do not get involved in that".
The Prime Minister also used today's question time in the Commons to reveal that there WILL be a White Paper formally outlining her Brexit plans ahead of a Bill on triggering Article 50.
She told MPs today that she would ensure that they had every opportunity to scrutinise proposals for negotiating Brexit which she set out in a keynote speech last week.
“I can confirm to the House that our plan will be set out in a white paper published in this House,” she said.
The announcement came after a number of pro-Remain Tories - including Nicky Morgan, Dominic Grieve and Ken Clarke - called on Tuesday for the PM to release official plans.