Boris Johnson has said the incoming Trump administration is keen to do a free trade deal with the UK and "fast".

Fresh from his trip to the US to meet with key members of Donald Trump's team, Boris Johnson told MPs there was a "huge fund of goodwill" for the UK on Capitol Hill.

Asked in the House of Commons how quickly the UK could do a deal with America, Mr Johnson said: "There was a huge fund of goodwill for the United Kingdom on Capitol Hill and a very large measure of understanding that now is the time to do a free trade deal.

"They want to do it and they want to do it fast and that understanding was most vivid and most urgent on the part of the incoming administration".

Immediately after meeting Mr Trump's senior advisers for talks earlier this week, Mr Johnson declared Britain was "first in line" for a trade deal with the US. The Foreign Secretary, who once quipped he would not visit parts of New York because of the "real risk of meeting Donald Trump", praised the President-elect's "very exciting agenda of change".

He also said relations between the UK and US would remain close once Mr Trump takes office on 20 January.


:: Analysis: Boris Johnson avoids awkward questions on 'secretive' US trip



April: Obama's Brexit warning

Outgoing President Barack Obama warned during the EU referendum campaign that Britain

But Mr Johnson said: "Clearly, the Trump administration-to-be has a very exciting agenda of change.

"One thing that won't change though is the closeness of the relationship between the US and the UK.

"We are the number two contributor to defence in NATO. We are America's principal partner in working for global security and, of course, we are great campaigners for free trade.

"We hear that we are first in line to do a great free trade deal with the United States. So, it's going to be a very exciting year for both our countries."

Mr Johnson met Mr Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and his chief strategist Steve Bannon in New York after flying there on Sunday.



November - Boris Johnson: Stop the Trump whinge-o-rama

He has also been meeting other key Republicans in Washington, including House Speaker Paul Ryan.

Prime Minister Theresa May is due to meet Mr Trump in Washington next month.

Speaking to Sophy Ridge on Sunday, Mrs May said Mr Trump's previous lewd remarks about women were "unacceptable".

:: Analysis: Diplomats look to mend relations between May and Trump



PM: 'Trump comments unacceptable'

The President-elect faced an angry backlash during last year's presidential campaign after a 2005 recording emerged of him boasting about groping women.

In her first broadcast interview of the year, the Prime Minister was critical of the comments, but pointed out Mr Trump had since apologised for them.

Mr Trump has tweeted he was "very much" looking forward to meeting Mrs May, adding that he considered Britain to be a "very special" ally.