A RENOWNED political journalist giving a talk at Winchester Cathedral has said it is more likely president Donald Trump will be re-elected than impeached.

The BBC's North America editor Jon Sopel has been reporting on the White House and the ups and downs of Trump’s presidency.

At the Friends of Winchester Cathedral’s annual lecture, Mr Sopel revealed his first-hand experiences – travelling aboard Air Force One, interviewing president Obama, questioning president Trump, gun shows, Missouri riots – to hundreds of guests.

The talk, which was introduced by Bruce Parker, chairman of Friends of Winchester Cathedral, was based on Mr Sopel's newly published book, "If Only They Didn't Speak English".

Mr Sopel has previously lived in Cheriton and began his career at Radio Solent.

He told guests that there was more chance president Trump would serve a second term than be removed, saying that his fans will support him regardless of whether his legislation is pushed through.

He added however, that, "the three branches of government have shown themselves to be pretty robust," in reference to controversial annoucements such as the Muslim travel ban.

Speaking about covering the presidential race as a reporter, he said: "It was an extraordinary time and you have the most unorthodox president that the world has known."

He said that part of reason for Trump's victory had been, "a failure to recognise the deep unhappiness brought about the financial crisis."

"There was a powerful feeling that there was no more social mobility," he said.

"What I saw going to Ohio, the old steel towns, the steel jobs were not coming back.

"There was just a frustration of the people that no one was speaking to them."

When asked if the Democrats would be able to field a credible candidate in the next election, Mr Sopel said: "I think what we are going to see in 2020 is an awful lot more independents. Does the Democratic Party have a serious problem? Yes."

He cited possible presidential runs from Facebook founder Mark Zukerberg and actor George Clooney.

Rounding up the evening, Mr Sopel concluded: "It is very early days. I think that things are happening that are keeping the president in check. Just because he says it on Twitter does not mean it is real."

Very Rev Catherine Ogle, the dean of Winchester, thanked Mr Sopel for a "fascinating" talk before naming him a life-long honourary member of Friends of Winchester Cathedral.