Barack Obama will meet Jeremy Corbyn, it has been confirmed, amid a continued backlash towards the US President from pro-Brexit campaigners.
Previously, Labour officials had said that they “hoped” there would be a meeting between the US President and Mr Corbyn, who takes a critical stance towards Mr Obama’s foreign policy.
But now a private meeting has been confirmed, on the second day of Mr Obama’s four-day trip to the UK.
Mr Obama, who arrived in London on Friday, is taking part in a “town hall-style” event to answer questions from the public and will also visit the Globe Theatre to mark the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare.
His warning that Britain leaving the EU would push the country to “the back of the queue” for American trade deals has sparked a row from pro-Brexit campaigners.
Mr Obama urged Britain to remain in the European Union in a speech, reflecting the government’s pro-EU stance.
“I don't think the EU moderates British influence in the world, it magnifies it,” he said, stressing that America would prioritise relations with Brussels over forming any new free trade agreements with Britain.
On Newsnight on Friday evening, Liam Fox, the former defence secretary, called Mr Obama's comments about the EU debate “largely irrelevant”.
Nigel Farage said that Mr Obama was “talking down Britain” with his comments, while Tory MP Dominic Raab said he was a “lame duck” for repeating the views of the UK government.
The American president is in the UK to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday, and has also held talks with David Cameron, who he will meet again on Saturday evening.
Mr Corbyn opposes British military intervention in Syria and last year wrote a letter to Labour MPs saying he “cannot support” David Cameron’s plans for British air strikes on Isis in Syria.
Military action in Syria is one of the topics that Mr Obama has discussed with the Prime Minister.
Speaking after talks with Prime Minister David Cameron at 10 Downing Street, Mr Obama stressed there were “no plans” to send ground troops into Libya.
But he said that he and Mr Cameron would not sit back and wait while Isis built up its base in the coastal city of Sirte.
