POLITICIANS from the main opposition parties are expected to take part in the mass protests against Donald Trump later this week when the US President will visit the UK and be met by the largest public demonstration ever seen against a visiting head of state.

Jo Swinson, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, has already pledged that she and her colleagues will be “front and centre” of the protests, saying demonstrating against the US President, a “man with dangerous, misogynistic and racist views is our responsibility”.

A number of Labour MPs, who have expressed outrage at some of Mr Trump’s policies, most recently the separation of migrant children from their parents, are also expected to be on the front line of the protests, including such backbenchers as David Lammy and Stella Creasy.

When asked if Jeremy Corbyn might be prepared to join them, his spokesman replied: “Let’s wait and see.”

The scale of the protests in London, Glasgow and Edinburgh as well as in other towns and cities is set to run into hundreds of thousands; organisers have suggested it could even run into millions.

Police Scotland has already cancelled leave this weekend for 5,000 officers and the Police Federation of England and Wales has warned the presidential visit will put "unquestionable pressure" on forces across the country.

Almost all forces will send extra officers to help keep order at the planned mass demonstrations; they are required to send officers for major events and emergencies outside their region under the mutual aid agreement.

Simon Kempton, Operational Policing Lead for the federation, made clear despite careful planning, the visit would still put a huge strain on law enforcement in some parts of the country.

"Thousands of officers will be deployed from their home forces as part of mutual aid agreements, which are an important element of policing in this country to allow our resources to be flexibly and where they are needed most.

"However, the fact cannot be ignored that while the officers on mutual aid are deployed elsewhere thousands, more of their colleagues left behind in their home force will be expected to pick up the slack leaving them even more stretched.

"There was a time when we could do it all but now choices have to be made; we cannot do it all and this type of event puts a service which is already creaking at its knees under unquestionable pressure," he added.

Mr Trump, accompanied by his wife Melania, will arrive in the UK on Thursday afternoon after attending what is likely to be a fractious Nato summit, dominated by Washington's call for EU countries to pay more for defence.

That evening the President will travel to Oxfordshire for a black-tie dinner at Blenheim Palace, the ancestral home and birthplace of Winston Churchill. Among the 100 guests will be senior politicians and business leaders.

On Friday, he will attend a defence event with Theresa May before going to Chequers for bilateral talks over lunch with the Prime Minister, followed by a press conference. Later in the afternoon, Mr Trump and his wife Melania will travel on to Windsor Castle for tea with the Queen.

In the evening, they will travel to Scotland, regarded largely as the “private” part of their visit. While no details have yet been given about his trip north of the border, it is expected the US President will spend his down-time at one or both of his family’s golf courses at Turnberry in Ayrshire and Menie in Aberdeenshire.

Yet given the openness of golf courses, there could be great potential for protesters to cause disruption.

No details have yet emerged for any planned meeting between Mr Trump and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

The President could spend as many as three nights in Scotland before heading on Monday for Helsinki for a high-profile summit with Russia’s Vladimir Putin.