John Woodcock

State visits get funded by the states involved, and whether we like it or not that ultimately means taxpayers in the UK and USA coughing up for the hospitality and immense security surrounding the president.

Could super-rich Trump himself have paid for it all, given the big publicity boost back home of the pictures in Buckingham Palace?

Certainly not. He was invited over here by the Queen; you don’t ask someone over for lunch then present them with a bill for ingredients, no matter how annoying they have been.

I guess in theory the government could attract a private sector donor to offset the cost. Her Majesty could pause the state banquet to say: ‘And now, a word from our sponsor’. Or maybe discrete logos could be sewn into the suits and dresses worn by participants like happens in televised snooker these days. Trump in Blighty, in Association with Garnier Tanning Product, that sort of thing. Ahem. It doesn’t feel very British.

Of course, the bigger question is whether he should have been offered all the trappings of a state visit at all, given how controversial a figure he is. I was certainly critical of Theresa May for asking the Queen to invite him. Many of the views Donald Trump has expressed are abhorrent and the way he conducts himself demeans the great office to which he has been elected.

But once the offer was made it was deeply damaging of Jeremy Corbyn and his team to snub the Queen’s request for the official opposition to attend the dinner with the man who represents our closest ally. So much depends on the UK and US working hand in glove on matters of national security, including of course the Dreadnought submarine programme that is the bedrock of our local economy.

Corbyn’s stupid stunt, choosing to address the anti-Trump demonstration on Whitehall and boycott the dinner, underlines why his election would kill that special relationship, imperilling thousands of jobs in the yard.

Tim Farron

Donald Trump’s state visit is over. The protesters can put away their placards and fold away the inflatable baby. The Queen can put her feet up and the rest of us can all exhale in the knowledge that nothing too dreadful happened.

As it was the United Kingdom that invited the President over, then it would seem odd if it was the United Kingdom that didn’t pay for the cost of having him here.

I suppose the question really is whether Theresa May should have rolled out the red carpet for Donald Trump in the first place.

If I’d still been my party’s leader, I would have done as Vince Cable did - declined the opportunity to join the pomp at the Palace, but offer to sit down and have a business-like discussion with the President. I don’t think you should fete and celebrate someone who has acted so flagrantly against the values of freedom, decency and tolerance especially regarding his despicable treatment of Muslims, the victims of torture and the children of migrants.

However, when it comes to diplomacy, if we only ever talk to people whose values we approve of 100%, then we are going to be very lonely and very impotent.

And, it’s been said many times this week, in recent years our country has entertained world leaders with far worse human rights records with Donald Trump.

Yes of course we expect a far higher standard of behaviour from the President of the USA than we do from other heads of state, but if we refuse to engage with the leader of our oldest ally then how do we expect the situation to improve?

Trudy Harrison

Our ties with America are hugely important. And through state visits like this, with open dialogue, the UK can ensure our economic partnership not only endures but continues to grow stronger for many years to come. This ultimately makes our businesses more competitive, creating jobs and opportunity.

The USA is already the UK’s largest single trading partner in the world and trade between our countries – worth £190 billion last year – has grown by more than 70 per cent over the last decade. 13.3% of UK exports are to the USA, which – at over £50 billion a year - is the most to any one nation.

So it is important that such presidential visits take place to continue to build on these vital links. If our leaders took part in a state visit we would expect that country to pick up the bill. State visits of this sort are diplomatic, not personal.

As we plan for life outside of the EU and look outwardly across the world for increased trading opportunities, our close and deeply historic relationship with America becomes even more important. We need to continue to lay the groundwork for a future trading relationship that is in the best interests of our economy, and our country as a whole.

The US was the top destination for UK investment – £257.8 billion in 2017 and the US was the top investor in the UK – £351.0 billion in 2017.

It is also vitally important to use this State visit to influence the US to step up its efforts to decarbonise. Our Government has brought in Marine Conservation Zones as well as banning plastic straws and micro beads. But in the grand scheme of things, we are a small island. It is our soft, influential powers and advanced manufacturing ability that could truly make the game changing difference. And here in Copeland, the centre of nuclear excellence, we have the track record, skilled workforce and infrastructure to play our part.