Turkish president to visit Britain for talks with Theresa May

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is to visit the UK for talks with Theresa May on May 15, Downing Street has announced.

Number 10 said that his trip would be an opportunity for Britain and Turkey to demonstrate their close relationship.

Mrs May met Mr Erdogan in Turkey on a one-day visit in January last year, when they agreed a £100 million defence deal to help develop fighter jets for the Turkish air force.

Mr Erdogan has been widely accused of a campaign of repression against perceived opponents in the press, academia and judiciary following an unsuccessful coup in 2016.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "The visit is an opportunity for the UK and Turkey to demonstrate our close bilateral relationship and to have important discussions about issues of shared interest."