The Mayor of London defended protests against the US president, Donald Trump saying that limiting the right to protest limits the right to free-speech.

Ahead of his visit to the UK Mr Trump told the Sun that The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan was accountable for the terror attacks in London.

He blamed immigration for both the terror attacks and crime in the capital.

But Mr Khan hit back at the US president on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme this morning.

Mr Khan also defended allowing a giant balloon depicting Mr Trump as an angry baby to fly near Parliament, saying: “I shouldn’t be the arbiter, as a politician, of what’s in good taste or bad taste, what’s important is it to be peaceful, and for it to be safe.

“And, frankly speaking, the idea that we limit the rights to protest, we limit the rights to free speech because it may cause offence to a foreign leader is a very, very slippery slope.”

Speaking about Mr Trump’s criticism of the Mayor’s record on knife crime, Mr Khan told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I have seen no evidence that this crime has been brought in by immigration from Africa or other parts of the world to Europe.”

The mayor has defended the planned protests for a number of months despite criticism from UKIP London Assembly member David Kurten who said he “singled out” the US President.

As the President arrived in the UK yesterday Mr Kurten tweeted: “Welcome to the UK, President Donald Trump.”

Speaking ahead of Mr Trump’s visit, Mr Khan said: “Around the world, the far-right and nationalist populists are on the rise. This has led to a constant focus on what divides us, rather than what unites us – and the horrific scapegoating of some of the most vulnerable people in our societies.

“I know Londoners are resolutely opposed to the politics of fear and despair. The US has always stood by our side as a beacon for tolerance, openness and respect. This protest is not anti-American – far from it.

“But having a special relationship means that we expect the highest standards from each other, and it also means speaking out when we think the values we hold dear are under threat.”