Dear Commons Community,
Over forty-thousand British citizens have signed a petition demanding Donald Trump be blocked from addressing parliament during his upcoming state visit.
Trump has said he expects to visit the UK in September. As reported by The National and other media.
Keir Starmer handed over an invitation letter from King Charles when he visited the White House in February.
A group of MPs and peers have already urged the Speakers of the House of Commons and House of Lords to turn down any request for Trump to address them while he is here.
It has now emerged that a petition on the change.org website echoing that demand has attracted 43,000 signatures in just one week.
The petition has been set up by philanthropist and campaigner Corin Dalby.
He said: “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.
“The UK parliament should not provide a platform to a figure whose actions and words are so at odds with the principles we hold dear.”
Dalby added: “We are a proud democratic country, and we should be protective of that status. Therefore, we should be extremely vigilant by not affording anyone, regardless of their position or status, and who do not align themselves, either verbally or by actions, with our own values with the privilege of addressing parliament.”
The last American president to address parliament was Barack Obama in 2011.
Former Commons Speaker John Bercow blocked Trump from doing so the last time he was president.
A spokesperson for current Speaker Lindsay Hoyle said: “Should a request be made to address the Houses of Parliament, it will be considered in the usual way. No request has been received, but any decision would be made by both speakers.”
Trump – the leader of the free world – HAH!
Tony
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