Tony Blair has admitted that mass demonstrations during President Bush's state visit to the UK are inevitable.

Downing Street said it was naïve to expect that the three-day visit would pass without incident.

"There have been protests over the past year in relation to Iraq. I don't think either the president or prime minister are under any illusion. People have strong views," said Number 10's official spokesman.

"Of course people have a right in a democracy to protest: that's perfectly proper."

As London faces gridlock, with Washington pressing for an "exclusion zone" around the president, Number 10 urged protestors to remember that Iraq was now free from the regime of Saddam Hussein.

"We are in a different state in relation to Iraq and it's important that everybody does what they can to work towards the democratic Iraq that everybody wants," said the spokesman.

Downing Street said the visit would underline the shared values, historical and cultural links between the two countries.

"The president is coming for an important state visit and the relationship between the UK and the US is an extremely important one," said the spokesman.

"The prime minister believes it is absolutely right that President Bush comes on a state visit at this time. The relationship has never been defined by one issue and never will be."

The comments followed Tony Blair's insistence that the UK can maintain a strong relationship with the US and remain a key player in Europe.

Addressing the lord mayor's banquet in London, Blair said the two bodies were "twin pillars of Britain's place in the world".

"Europe and America share the same values; are bound inextricably by history and culture; and now more than ever, are into each others ribs in business, trade and commerce," he said.

Whilst he vowed to press ahead with the development of a common European defence policy the prime minister warned that he would do nothing to damage NATO.

Ahead of President Bush's visit, Blair said he would not stifle legitimate anti-war protests.

But he questioned why those who were opposed to the conflict are not now protesting about winning the peace.

"I say to those who will protest when President Bush comes. Protest if you will. That is your democratic right," he said.

"Attack the decision to go to war, though have the integrity to realise that without it, those Iraqis now tasting freedom would still be under the lash of Saddam, his sons and their henchmen.

"But accept that the task now is not to argue about what has been, but to make what is happening now, work and work for the very Iraqis we all say we want to help."

The speech came ahead of a poll which revealed that the majority of voters believe Blair's relationship with George W Bush is bad for Britain.

Published on Tuesday, the Populus survey for the Times newspaper found that 50 per cent of voters think the special relationship forged by Blair has had negative consequences for the UK.

Some 59 per cent of those polled also believed that America's standing in the world had fallen since President Bush took up residence in the Oval Office.