The new Anglo-American 'Special Relationship' ends the "Blair Doctrine"

You're right Jim I have no intension at all of helping any kids in the street, if you give kids like that money it just encourages them even more to accost the next Joe that comes their way.

I much prefer to give money on a one to one basis, to a person of my choice when the mood takes me.

I agree it isn't a bad record at all.

Ive only had one instance of being approached by more than 1 kid. It was a mother with her 3 kids who approached me as I was going in Jolibee. They were obviously very poor and living on the street. I felt bad for them and gave money.

Its usually a single kid who approaches when im stopped at lights in a taxi. I cant say for all but some of those are in groups and give that money to an elder 'minder' at the end of the day.

Yea such a scenario could quickly get out of hand. Do you recall whereabouts you were? Colon?

Ahh yep. Ive got the same exact photo and hotelled just over the road. When i hotel i usually stay around fuente but chose the hotel right near the Church there for whatever reason.

Lots of tourists there of course

As over 700,000 people have signed an online petition to cancel Trump's state visit to the UK, the matter must be debated in Parliament. If the visit is cancelled, Trump might not be quite so supportive of Britain or NATO and as far as a trade deal is concerned, we could be in the same position in the queue as threatened by Obama.

The US may become isolationist and that will not be a Good Thing.

Lets hope it all blows over soon, the petition is to save embarrassment to the Queen apparently.

An isolationist US is a bit of a worry, Russia especially needs no encouragement to fill any void left by the US. In a way it shows us all that we have relied on the US for protection too much and possibly taken them for granted.

Let us hope that normal service resumes soon.

Despite what Trump said during May's visit, the US is going to be isolationist. If it isn't, some see May as a mere pawn as he attempts to flatter Merkel (who, allegedly, had to tell him all about the Geneva Convention!). May only spoke out when she saw the groundswell of opinion here and in the US.

Even if it is debated in Parliament, there is no chance of the UK refusing him entry.

As did Corbyn but not a peep out of little Timmy Farron.

This issue has been blown out of all proportion and as though it's never happened before. Except it has. In 2011, Obama did exactly the same thing. He banned all refugees from Iraq. Not for three months, but for six. Nary a mention in the (liberal, hand-wringing) press because of course Obama could do no wrong. There are sixteen countries that ban Israelis from entering their countries including Malaysia and Brunei - and not only Israeli nationals but also anyone with an Israeli stamp in the Passport. Where are the banner-bearing, pussy-hatted protestors and column-miles of angst-filled condemnatory prose? Or maybe it's okay because it's always open season for discriminating against Israel and Israelis?

I am pleased to note that British dual nationals such as Sir Mo Farrah can travel to the US after all. Likely our Special Relationship can be credited for this change.

Yes, it was blown out of all proportion, stirred up by heavily biased media reporting.

Amazing how much hatred flows from those who lost the fair democratic vote.

Her Majesty has apparently hosted over 100 heads of state at Buckingham Palace who are invited by her government including Nicolae Ceaușescu, the brutal Communist dictator of Romania who came to Britain in 1978 with his wife Elena and in 1985 it was the turn of Hastings Banda of Malawi who was infamously noted for his habit of having cabinet colleagues murdered if he took a dislike to them. One of those protesting at Trump's impending State Visit is Paddy Ashdown who claims he finds it "impossible to bear" that Mrs May is "forcing" President Trump on the Queen. Oh really? So why didn’t we hear from Paddy expressing similar emotions about Robert Mugabe’s State Visit in 1994?

Corbyn yesterday tweeted that Trump "should not be welcomed to Britain while he abuses our shared values." The same Corbyn who, as the newly-elected Labour leader in October 2015, turned up at the Palace for "cordial and constructive" talks with President Xi Jinping of China during his State Visit. Does Corbyn feel "shared values" with Xi Jinping? China remains a one-party dictatorship. Religious and ethnic minorities are persecuted – with the destruction of Christian churches in Zhejiang province and Buddhist temples in Tibet. Independent trade unions are banned, the media is censored and thousands are imprisoned for their political beliefs.

Corbyn compounds hypocrisy with fake news. Today he tweeted:

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The problem - for Corbyn - is that Maggie Thatcher was anything but a supporter of Apartheid. F W de Clerk said of Thatcher’s contribution to the end of Apartheid "She exerted more influence on what happened in South Africa than any other political leader". And Nelson Mandela praised Thatcher's role in helping to end Apartheid: "She is an enemy of Apartheid. We have much to thank her for."

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As Corbyn was a backbencher during Thatcher's Premiership, he should know what she stood for but chooses to spread untruths to give added weight to his reptilian rant.

YouGov has today published the results of its polling of public support for Donald Trump's State Visit:

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Nearly half of Brits watch programmes like Big Brother and have brains the size of peanuts.

Of course the leader of our main ally, and the world's most powerful free country should be welcomed here.

Idiots.

Big Brother gets a rating of barely 2m viewers. Not even nearly a half.

The point of the petition is not to actually stop the visit of course. It is to indicate the strength of public opinion. To offer a State Visit so early in a Presidency is unheard of, and was careless of Maybe.

I thought the official take on the petition was to stop Trump visiting the UK to avoid embarrassment to our dear Queen.

True. I am, maybe surprisingly, opposed to the petition. But, I respect the rights of people to hold such petitions.

I am also amused that some of the people who have been dismissing the numbers of signers (I am not one by the way) as non-representative when there are more people actively seeking to stop Trump's visit than those who have signed in support of his visit. Just as those who want to remain in the EU have to accept the view of the small majority of the people who took part in the election, surely those who are dismissing this petition should appreciate that there are a large number of people that feel strongly?