Furious campaigners demand Donald Trump is banned from addressing UK Parliament | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Furious campaigners have demanded that Donald Trump be barred from addressing the UK Parliament throughout his upcoming state go to, accusing the US President of a “consistent disregard for democratic values” and calling on Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle to dam any such transfer. A petition on Change.org titled “Stop Donald Trump addressing UK Parliament” had attracted greater than 41,000 signatures as of 8pm on Tuesday, with the quantity persevering with to rise.

The petition, launched by Corin Dalby, states: “We believe it would be completely inappropriate to invite US President Donald Trump to speak in the UK Parliament, as part of his state visit to the UK. President Trump has shown a consistent disregard for democratic values. He has made troubling remarks about the UK and its institutions, and is unable to clearly condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine – which all UK political parties have strongly opposed.” Mr Trump is because of return to the UK later this yr on a state go to, having been formally invited by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer throughout a gathering in Washington final autumn.

Campaigners argue that, whereas official talks are unavoidable, Parliament should not present a platform to a determine they accuse of undermining democratic norms and “flouting the courts and the rule of law.”

The petition highlights the precedent set by former Speaker John Bercow, who refused to permit Mr Trump to talk within the House of Commons throughout his 2019 go to, and urges Sir Lindsay Hoyle to take the identical stance.

Quoting Labour MP Kate Osborne, it reads: “We support the call for the Speaker to refuse such an address.”

She and different signatories argue that permitting Mr Trump to talk would contradict the UK’s core democratic ideas.

The petition additionally cites Labour peer Lord Foulkes, who mentioned: “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.”

The organisers add: “The values of British democracy are not for sale. They are not negotiable.

“Sign this petition to stand up for those values and stop Donald Trump from addressing our Parliament.”

Although no formal request to deal with MPs has been confirmed, any such proposal would wish the approval of each the Speaker of the Commons and the Lord Speaker within the House of Lords.

Mr Trump beforehand visited the UK as President in 2018 and 2019, assembly the late Queen Elizabeth II and attending a state banquet at Buckingham Palace.

His presidency was marked by sharp criticism of NATO allies, clashes with British leaders over Brexit, and ongoing authorized troubles that proceed to divide opinion.

There has been no response from the Speaker’s Office or clarification from Parliament on whether or not an invite to deal with MPs might be prolonged.

But campaigners are urgent their case forward of time. One signatory commented: “We are not anti-American. We are anti-authoritarian – and Trump should never be allowed to speak in our Parliament.”