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Donald Trump tells Theresa May the UK is a 'very, very special place for me'

The special relationship between the UK and the US will go from "strength to strength", Donald Trump has told Theresa May in their first telephone call since his election.

The President-elect told the Prime Minister the UK was a "very, very special place for me and for our country".

He set out his "close and personal connections with, and warmth for, the UK", according to a Downing Street spokesman.

Mrs May stressed the importance of Britain's relationship with the US in the wake of the Brexit vote.

The call came at 1.45pm on Thursday ahead of Mr Trump's meeting in Washington with Barack Obama.

Mr Trump had spoken to nine leaders before calling Mrs May, sparking some concerns over the state of the "special relationship" with the President-elect.

A spokesman for No 10 said: "The Prime Minister and President-elect Trump agreed that the US-UK relationship was very important and very special, and that building on this would be a priority for them both.

"President-elect Trump set out his close and personal connections with, and warmth for, the UK. He said he was confident that the special relationship would go from strength to strength.

"The Prime Minister expressed her commitment to building and expanding the UK's relationships around the world, particularly after the referendum vote, and the importance of our partnership with the US."

He added: "She highlighted her wish to strengthen bilateral trade and investment with the US as we leave the EU.

"But she said that our relationship is so much more than that and our two countries have always stood together as close allies when it counts the most.

"President-elect Trump strongly agreed and added that the UK is a 'very, very special place for me and for our country'."

He said the call ended with Mr Trump inviting Mrs May to visit him "at the earliest opportunity".

While Mr Obama had threatened the UK would be at the back of the queue if it left the EU, Mr Trump has previously said the UK would be at the front, if he became president.

Ahead of Mrs May, Mr Trump spoke to the leaders of South Korea, Japan, Egypt, Australia, India, Turkey, Israel and Mexico.

He invited Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny to attend the St Patrick's Day celebrations at the White House, as is the tradition.

Chancellor Philip Hammond said the apparent delay in the call to Mrs May was because they did not have any urgent business to discuss.

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron had tweeted: "Trump yet to call May, but has called Egypt Ireland Mexico Israel Turkey India Japan & Australia...almost like we are 'back of the queue'."

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