Wandsworth’s main party leaders have jointly expressed concern over the possible visit of United States president Donald Trump to Battersea.

The United States Embassy is set to open in Nine Elms next year in a new £800 million development which will see the base moved to the borough from Grosvenor Square in Mayfair.

It is believed that President Trump will visit Battersea when the building officially opens in February next year, however nothing is confirmed as of yet.

Cllr Ravi Govindia, leader of Wandsworth Council, addressed a question put forward by opposition leader Cllr Simon Hogg at the council meeting this week (December 6).

Mr Hogg said: “Will the leader [Cllr Govindia] join me in condemning the recent divisive tweets about Muslims by President Trump?

“Will the leader sign a joint statement by both main parties expressing our concern, as the host borough, that the president is a risk to community harmony here and across the UK if he continues to make appalling prejudiced statements?”

Cllr Govindia said: “I believe the Prime Minister spoke for everyone in this chamber when she took the very unusual step for a UK Prime Minister of publicly rebuking the US President.

“I join her, Secretary of State Sajid Javid, Cllr Hogg and I believe the overwhelming majority of the country in condemning these tweets.

" I have no knowledge of a plan for the President to visit the UK in February, and therefore see no current reason to make any further intrusion into a very unfortunate episode.

“The UK and the USA have a very long tradition of close friendship, cooperation and partnership which existed long before the tenures of current elected politicians and I predict will continue long after the current generation of leaders have left the world stage.

“More locally, in Wandsworth, we are pleased to be the location for the new US Embassy which opens next month. The building itself has become an instant London landmark, and we work closely with our friends in the US Embassy – Americans and UK nationals, working together in Nine Elms.

“We will not allow a few ill-judged tweets to overshadow our warm welcome to the US Embassy, its staff and visitors.”