Recep Tayyip Erdogan is to visit the UK next week

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is to visit the UK next week and will meet Theresa May on Tuesday, Downing Street has said.

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

Mr Erdogan will also meet the Queen on the three-day trip.

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Ms May met the Turkish premier in Ankara on a one-day visit in January last year, when they agreed a £100m defence deal that helped develop fighter jets for the Turkish air force.

Mr Erdogan is accused of waging a brutal campaign of repression against perceived opponents in the press, academia and judiciary following an unsuccessful coup in 2016.

The visit to the UK by the Turkish leader, who has dominated the country’s politics for more than 15 years, comes at a time when he is seeking to extend his rule for another five years.