- by Met
Donald Trump has been barred from making a speech in Westminster Hall on his state visit by Commons Speaker John Bercow.
In an extraordinary broadside from the Speaker’s chair, Speaker Bercow said Mr Trump’s controversial ban on migrants from seven majority Muslim countries had increased his ‘strong opposition’.
The Speaker is one of three ‘keyholders’ for the ancient hall who must agree to its use and if he refuses to cooperate it will be impossible for Theresa May to extend a speaking invitation to the US President.
He was applauded by MPs after branding Mr Trump racist and s3xist but despite its acclaim from MPs the speech is likely to provoke a diplomatic headache in No 10 and at Buckingham Palace.
Mr Trump’s executive order provoked protests around the world and has been suspended by US judges as unconstitutional.
Speaker John Bercow, pictured rebuking Donald Trump in the Commons today, said his opposition to a speech in Parliament by Donald Trump had been increased by the President’s migrant ban
He told MPs: ‘What I will say is this: an address by a foreign leader to both Houses of Parliament is not an automatic right, it is an earned honour.
‘Moreover, there are many precedents for state visits to take place to our country which do not include an address to both Houses of Parliament.
‘Before the imposition of the migrant ban, I would myself have been strongly opposed to an address by President Trump in Westminster Hall.
‘After the imposition of the migrant ban by President Trump I am even more strongly opposed to an address by President Trump in Westminster Hall.’
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Mr Bercow said he has less influence over whether a speech could be made by President Trump in the Royal Gallery because it is in a different part of the building.
But he told MPs it was customary for an invitation to be sent in the names of both speakers of Parliament – himself and Lords Speaker Lord Fowler.
‘I would not wish to issue an invitation to President Trump to speak in the Royal Gallery,’ he told MPs.
Mr Bercow concluded: ‘We value our relationship with the United States; if a state visit takes place that is way beyond and above the pay grade of the Speaker.
‘However, as far as this place is concerned I feel very strongly that our opposition to racism and to s3xism and our support for a equality before the law and an independent judiciary are hugely important considerations in the House of Commons.’
Speaker Bercow made his extraordinary intervention in the House of Commons today in response to a point of order
Speaker Bercow made his extraordinary intervention in the House of Commons today in response to a point of order
Mr Doughty raised his point of order after tabling a Commons motion opposing Mr Trump’s speech. It has been signed by 163 MPs – mostly from Labour and the SNP.
But the intervention was slammed by ex-Ukip leader Nigel Farage who said: ‘For Speaker Bercow to uphold our finest parliamentary traditions, he should be neutral.’
No 10 sources played down the intervention, insisting the itinerary for the visit had not been set and would be discussed ‘in due course’.
Mr Trump is due to visit Britain for a state visit later this year. A normal part of the programme would be a speech to MPs and peers in Parliament.
Barack Obama addressed Parliament in Westminster Hall while Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan used the opulent Royal Gallery, which is behind the House of Lords.
Prime Minister Theresa May extended an invite for a state visit on her trip to Washington earlier this month – marking the earliest invite for a new US president in decades.
Donald Trump, pictured at MacDill airforce base today, is due to visit Britain for a state visit later this year. A normal part of the programme would be a speech to MPs and peers in Parliament
Donald Trump, pictured at MacDill airforce base today, is due to visit Britain for a state visit later this year. A normal part of the programme would be a speech to MPs and peers in Parliament
Commons speakers are among the most powerful people within the Westminster system but they are expected to be independent.
By tradition, when elected speakers are literally dragged to the Commons chair.
But once installed convention dictates they set aside their own politics to stand up for the rights of all MPs.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: ‘Well said John Bercow. We must stand up for our country’s values.
‘Trump’s State Visit should not go ahead.’
Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said: ‘This is the right decision by The Speaker.
‘The Prime Minister might wish to kowtow to the nasty misogynist that now sits in the Oval Office but no-one else does.
‘We do not want him to speak to us. He is not welcome. ‘Speaking within Parliament is a rare honour, the highest honour we can offer.
‘In the past we have hosted speeches from leaders in equality, justice and human rights from Mandela to Obama to Aung San Suu Kyi. Trump is not fit to shine their shoes.’
Barack Obama was granted the rare honour of a speech in Westminster Hall during a state visit to Britain in 2011
Other leaders – such as President Ronald Reagan in 1982, pictured – have addressed MPs and peers from the opulent Royal Gallery behind the House of Lords
Man seh Trump nuh fit fi shine Mandela and Pres. Obama shoes..true word…wukliss nogood cruff..him muss shame..hope him hair fall out ova all errybody a dis him from head to foot
Dem nahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh tek no check cause him mouth dont belong to him :ngakak
Parliament full of top tier academics; it would be an absolute insult, to sit, and listen to this buffoon.
‘In the past we have hosted speeches from leaders in equality, justice and human rights from Mandela to Obama to Aung San Suu Kyi. Trump is not fit to shine their shoes.’
English people mouth nuh nice!!!
Yes English people have a way with words for real.
how many people now really think that marie le pen gonna win the french presidency? also who now believe the nazi party in germany gonna unseat angel merkle in their upcoming elections? what about the racist party in the netherlands? just like I said last november they’ll NEVER stand a chance, thanks to orange dump who blow the cover and expose how DANGEROUS theese populist/nationalist/fascists/
racist/anti-semitic movements could be not only for their country but for the entire world and unlike overhere the europeans are’nt that delusional like “Dat Mi Seh” :ngakak theresa may and her conservative party is on borrowed time too, wait till the british people realize the after effects of a post brexit, its like repealing OBAMACARE :travel
William Willberforce, would roll in his grave to know a demon like trump was let into parliament to spew his hate.
This not about national or racism, this is about the New World Order been overthrown, they attacked Iraq, Libya and Syria and was spreading their destruction everywhere they made Europe full of refugees seeking shelter from war in their countries and the European people cannot take anymore refugees and furthermore the refugees prefer to be in their own land but because of the puppet masters NWO they have created a mess… The EU is a project of the NWO they are a bunch of unelected stooges collecting billions from the UK for nothing. Now their dolly house is braking down as they are losing control…
People who understand what has been going on know better and vote for Trump but most of the mass do not know what was going on as liars like FOX news and CNN continually lead the mass astray… Obama Bush were all puppets and done as they where told, physically starting off the NWO with 9 11
Met orange fruit and dem tommorrow him and Twitter and him finger going fight lol
Donald trump is such a disgrace.this man beat dumb and dummer .donald is so shameless and stupid. Donald is going to run himself to reck right infront of all who him a disrespect. Time is the master