THERESA May has brushed off calls to challenge Donald Trump over alleged sexist comments saying that becoming the first world leader to hold talks with the new President in the Oval Office is the “biggest statement” she can make about the global role of women.

But the Prime Minister also insisted she would talk tough over Russia, Syria and the role of Nato as well as discuss a potential UK-US post-Brexit free trade deal on Friday.

Last night, the SNP’s international trade spokesman called on Mrs May to set out her plans to MPs before she jets off to the US.

Politicians on this side of the Atlantic are increasingly concerned that the UK could struggle to get a good agreement with Mr Trump, who last week announced his plans for “America first”.

Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh said: “It can’t surely be right that Donald Trump will be added to the list of those who know more about Theresa May’s Brexit plans than parliamentarians or the Scottish public.

“A strong Prime Minister would explain her plans to the House of Commons before flying to Washington to beg the most protectionist US president in a generation for a favourable trade deal”.

The SNP MP has also written to the International Trade Secretary, Liam Fox, urging him to make a statement to the Commons on what progress has already been made on potential deals with other countries.

Downing Street said that Friday’s meeting would mainly be an opportunity for the two leaders to “get to know one another” and “establish the basis for a productive working relationship”.

Mrs May stressed that she will tell Mr Trump when she finds his behaviour “unacceptable” – a criticism she has already levelled at him over his suggestion that his fame allowed him to grab women’s intimate parts.

The president’s numerous highly controversial remarks about women inspired more than a million people to join anti-Trump women’s marches in Britain, the US and around the world on Saturday.

Asked if she would raise the issue, Mrs May told BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show: “When I sit down I think the biggest statement that will be made about the role of women is the fact that I will be there as a female Prime Minister, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, directly talking to him about the interests that we share.”

Mrs May suggested her trip would be followed by a state visit by Mr Trump, which would include an audience with the Queen.

Mr Trump is said to want to forge a friendship with Mrs May based on the close relationship between Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan in the 1980s. The reality TV star has already taken to calling Mrs May “my Maggie” to advisers, it was reported.