2 weeks Ago By The Telegraph
MPs and peers have called for Donald Trump to be blocked from addressing Parliament when he visits the UK. The US president has suggested Buckingham Palace is “setting a date for September” for him to come to Britain for a state visit . Sir Keir Starmer extended an invitation from the King to Mr Trump for a historic second state visit when the Prime Minister visited the White House in February.
But some parliamentarians have voiced concerns that it would be “inappropriate” for him to speak in the Palace of Westminster, which former president Barack Obama did in 2011. A message sent to Lord McFall of Alcluith, the Lord Speaker, reported by The Times, said: “If it is suggested that he be invited to address both Houses of Parliament, I hope that you and Lindsay (the Commons Speaker) will suggest that would be inappropriate on this occasion because of his attitude towards and comments about the UK, parliamentary democracy, the Nato alliance and Ukraine.” Lord Foulkes, a Labour peer and former minister in Sir Tony Blair’s government, is co-ordinating efforts in the Upper Chamber to try and prevent Mr Trump giving an address.
‘Anti-democratic leader’ He said: “While the Government is obliged to deal with governments of all kinds, Parliament should not welcome a leader who is anti-democratic and flouts the courts and the rule of law. “He also fails to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which all parties in the UK Parliament have done.” Kate Osborne, the Labour MP for Jarrow and Gateshead East, has reportedly asked Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons Speaker, to oppose the US President giving a parliamentary address.
John Bercow, the Commons speaker during Mr Trump’s first term in office, told MPs in 2017 that he “strongly opposed” the president addressing the Houses of Parliament. In a letter to Sir Lindsay, Ms Osborne reportedly said: “I am asking you as the Speaker to agree it would be inappropriate and mirror the previous Speaker’s recommendation.” State visit in 2018 More than half of Sir Keir’s Cabinet had demanded that Mr Trump be banned from addressing MPs on a state visit during his first presidential term, including Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, and David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary.
Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, expressed on social media that he wished that Mr Trump’s tea with the Queen would be cancelled during his 2019 visit. Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, said he would join a march through central London organised by the “Stop Trump Coalition”, in protest of Trump’s visit in 2019. Mr Streeting tweeted about the same march: “Wish I could join”.
Mr Obama, Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan were all invited to address Parliament on their visits to Britain during their time as US president. Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, gave a speech in Westminster Hall to MPs and peers about the war in Ukraine in 2023. Reports suggest that the venue for Mr Trump’s second state visit is expected to be Windsor Castle, rather than Balmoral or Dumfries House, as previously thought.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office last week, Mr Trump said: “They’re going to do a second, as you know, a second fest ...
that’s what it is: a fest, and it’s beautiful, and it’s the first time it’s ever happened to one person. “And the reason is we have two separate terms, and it’s an honour ..
. I’m a friend of Charles , I have great respect for King Charles and the family, William, we have really just a great respect for the family.” Ms Osborne has been contacted for comment.
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