Thousands protest Donald Trump's United Kingdom visit

Thousands of people have taken to the streets across the United Kingdom to protest Donald Trump's proposed visit, while politicians debated whether the new US president should be given a lavish meeting with the Queen.

More than 1.8 million people have signed a petition demanding the state visit be watered down to stop the Mr Trump meeting Queen Elizabeth.

More than 300,000 people have signed a counter petition, demanding the state visit goes ahead as planned.

MP Nigel Evans says it would be hypocritical to cancel Mr Trump's visit.

"[Chinese president] Xi Jinping was here last year, where were the demonstrations then? How many votes did Xi Jinping get then? How many votes? It's double standards," he told the UK parliament.

"It's difficult to know whether to be appalled at the morality of this invitation, or just astonished at the stupidity of the invitation," Scottish National Party MP Alex Salmond said in the debate.

Britain invited Mr Trump to visit later this year as Prime Minister Theresa May's government seeks to reaffirm the so-called "special relationship" with the US and secure a trade deal as it prepares to leave the European Union.

Crowds gathered outside the British parliament with placards bearing slogans such as "Dump Trump, Fight Bigotry".

"It's about the rise of hate and extremism, which is personified by Trump," protester Alison Dale, 61, told Reuters.

"The invitation was kneejerk, and made us look desperate. Now we're leaving the European Union, it's clear we're just desperate for trade deals, and we look weak."

Europe correspondent Tova O'Brien told the AM Show it doesn't look like protests will stop Mr Trump.

"It's just not going to happen. This debate isn't going to change anything, the petition isn't going to change anything, the state visit is going to go ahead, Donald Trump is going to meet the Queen.

"You'll be forgiven for getting a sense of déjà vu when you tune into things in London at the moment because the protest here is the fourth anti-Trump protest that we've seen since the inauguration. But the protestors are saying they're going to keep them coming."

When Mr Trump's visit goes ahead the protests will be huge, she says.

Since taking office in January, Mr Trump has sparked global protests over policies which sought to ban migrants from seven Muslim-majority countries, and from women activists who said his campaign rhetoric and behaviour was misogynistic.

Newshub. / Reuters