President Donald Trump's "special relationship" with the United Kingdom could be in trouble after the Speaker of Britain's House of Commons said that he would be "strongly opposed" to Trump giving a speech to Parliament when he visits the country later this year.
"I would not wish to issue an invitation to President Trump to speak in the Royal Gallery" - Commons Speaker Bercow https://t.co/jMieTX3YSP pic.twitter.com/xgiB5B969R
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) February 6, 2017
John Bercow, who moderates debates in Parliament, said that the tradition of foreign leaders addressing Parliament is "an earned honor" and not an "automatic right." He said he would not be extending an invitation to Donald Trump, in stark contrast with his invitation to Barack Obama in 2011.
The statement came as members of Parliament debated a petition to withdraw an invitation for Trump to make a state visit to the United Kingdom, which attracted nearly 2 million signatures. The British government has said that the invitation still stands despite their opposition to Trump's controversial "Muslim ban" which halted travel from seven Muslim-majority countries.
Bercow said that he had no control over Trump's visit to the United Kingdom, but would do all he could to stop Trump addressing Parliament because of his history of "racism and sexism."
As you can imagine, reactions on social media have been mixed. Many supported the decision.
BREAKING: Donald Trump will not be allowed to address Parliament on his state visit to the UK because of his racist & sexist attitudes!
— #NotMyPresident (@France4Hillary) February 6, 2017
Extraordinary. Speaker Bercow vetoes Presidential address to Parliament attacking Trump for sexism, racism & lack of respect for judiciary. https://t.co/GpCV37rgFq
— Nick Robinson (@bbcnickrobinson) February 6, 2017
Wow. Speaker John Bercow opposes any Donald Trump visit to Parliament because of sexism and racism. What a hero ✊? pic.twitter.com/XJeDWAAPGx
— Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) February 6, 2017
Speaker Bercow has decided to check people coming into our Parliament VERY CAREFULLY. https://t.co/aXeSd59Svl
— Wes Streeting MP (@wesstreeting) February 6, 2017
While others pointed out that other world leaders with far more oppressive policies have been able to visit Parliament.
Kuwait bans Israelis, which is racist.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) February 6, 2017
Here's Speaker John 'No racists' Bercow welcoming the Emir of Kuwait to Parliament... pic.twitter.com/zIL5rizdcJ
So Bercow welcomed the President of China to speak to Parliament, but bans the President of the United States.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) February 6, 2017
Let that sink in, shall we?
We await Donald Trump's inevitable tweet on the subject.
from Distractify http://distractify.com/news/2017/02/06/british-parliament-bans-trump
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