Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, has said that he strongly opposes the matter of Donald Trump addressing the UK Parliament during his State Visit to the country later this year.
Because of the Speaker’s opposition, President Trump will not be able to address Parliament in Westminster Hall, and it is looking unlikely that he will be able to make an address at all.
Speaking in the Commons chamber, Mr Bercow said: “I would not wish to issue an invitation to President Trump to speak in the Royal Gallery.
“We value our relationship with the United States, if the State Visit takes place, that is way beyond and above the paygrade of the Speaker.
“However, as far as this place is concerned I feel very strongly that our opposition to racism and to sexism, and our support for equality before the law and an independent judiciary are hugely important considerations in the House of Commons.”
Following Mr Bercow’s speech, opposition MPs gave him a round of applause, despite clapping being banned in the chamber and only being used in exceptional circumstances.
Member of Parliment for Bolsover, Dennis Skinner, stood up after the speech telling the Speaker “well done”.
In his role as Speaker of the House of Commons, Mr Bercow is politically neutral and never takes sides on any issues. As a result, this intervention is unprecedented in the House.
Mr Bercow’s speech comes after Buckingham Palace privately expressed concern with Downing Street that The Queen is inadvertently being dragged into the Donald Trump State Visit controversy.
According to The Times, the Palace are unhappy that Her Majesty has been put into a politically explosive situation following the heavy controversy that has arisen.
The news comes after Downing Street said that the Prime Minister didn’t invite Donald Trump on a State Visit, but senior Buckingham Palace officials did so.
The invitation was suggested by the Foreign Office Committee, of which the Private Secretaries to The Queen, Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge take part in.
Despite the claims by Number 10, as a Constitutional Monarch, only the Prime Minister can approve an invitation for a State Visit to take place in Her Majesty’s name.
Bercow is an idiot. There won’t be any trade agreement as long as he’s around. He’s forcing the U.S. to look elsewhere.
Bercow is a hero, standing up for what is right.
Such bollocks. The USA is our biggest single nation trading partner, you don’t treat them like this. “Racism” – dear God, get a grip.
Fool…I live ‘Just North ‘ of Drumph in a magic land called Canada. Here, our views and treatment of refugees are well known and futhur, we do not abide by ‘Monsters’ thing to take down Democrcy. I feel we, (and I) have made it abundantly clear that we indeed not have fools with their crushing ignorance, explain and ‘Run’ things as though they were passed on to them by ‘St. Peter himself. I suggest that the individual open a book and form an opinion.
You start off with “Fool” – and then go on to type this incoherent, irrational and rambling mini-rant, with its appalling grammar and scatter-gun lack of focus.
I have a BA and an MSc, and for about 15 years, was reading 2 or 3 books per week. I doubt you read that many in a year, judging by this drivel.
(Oh, and I don’t really care where you’re from; it’s irrelevant to the discussion at hand.)
UKSteve show your face !
Why? What does that have to do with this (or any other) discussion?
Ha! Canada doesn’t accept male refugees without a wife, children, or elderly persons in their care. Cheque your hypocrisy.
It’s guys like this that make me so proud we cut our ties with these morons back in 1776!!
You cut ties in 1776 because we beat the living crap out of you and you had to turn tail and run for your lives. Then in 1812 we did it again because of your feeble attempt to place a stranglehold on our economy by blockading our ports. You don’t seem to understand that we are not your colony anymore…..we might just break off economic ties with you, as you did us, and trade elsewhere. That leaves you with crawling back to Europe.
Well done, he does not deserves any hand shakes with the royals! He does not have to poison our constitutions as he did with his own! He is not wanted! If he had dignity and feel the hearted around him he would postpone the invitation.
Would that be the war of 1812 that you started by invading Canada and then cry about because some colonial malitia beat you.
By the way he’s your president not ours so if we don’t want to listen to him or entertain him that’s our choice just like your ban on refugees is your choice
By the way America is developing enemy’s in numbers unheard of so I suggest you be careful of how many “friends” you piss off or you might just find yourself alone in the world and that’s when the wolves will close in.
Food for thought
Oh we have plenty of food here in the USA and a higher per/capita income
than you have, and the last I counted, more friends than you have. One thing we don’t have is group of superior humans who demand that you bow in their presence, and a Queen who is above every and all things.
And what has that wealth got you, absaloutly nothing You have squandered it on frivolous things while large Portians of your population don’t even have access to decent health care. And as for friend I think you will find most nations just tolirate you. You see a friend who goes around bullying his friends is no longer a friend. The world is running out of patients with the USA, not even your two closed nations like you. Mexico hates you and canids simply tolerates you. While the UK still has many relations ships based on mutual respect somethingbyou seem incapable of and as for food Candida Australia and new Zealand produce plenty so we can always just get it from them. But your comments just reinforces my earlier point if you continue to treat others in this bullying superior way you will run out of friends so be careful how many nations you alienate because that’s when the wolves close in and last I looked with the exception of the UK South Korea and Japan I carn’t think of a single nation that is truly a friend to the USA as most simolybtolirate you and where getting sick of you very fast.
And just so you know, no one is required to bow to the queen just goes to show the level of your knowledge
Where the hell did you learn how to spell, (Canida, tolirate Portians)Retard
Well I happen to be dyslexic but thank your showing me how superior you are
Dick head
Andy.. Andy..Andy Thank You for recognizing the fact that I am soup, soppie, supeeor superior. Got it. May You Live Long & Prosper.
I am an American and am so disgusted with Trump and his lies , bigotry,and everything he is against..our country is going down the tubes and we are now the laughing stock of the world..I feel he should be boycotted all over the world..He has no compassion for anyone and just loves himself!
So you are one of those sore losers who still wants to stay in the USA but hates the USA. Well, ISIS has a job for you and there are lots of good jobs in the U.K. Why don’t you move there and be happy. President Trump will be successful in bringing jobs back to the USA but you hate him so much, maybe you better just leave. People in my neighborhood sure don’t want your kind.
You need to think before you type.
Particularly with regard to the diplomatic (and domestic) consequences of doing as you suggest.
Hear, Hear, Mr. Speaker!
Let us know how you feel when you become an Islamic Nation!!!!!!
James I walk down the street with no problem, no sharia patrols you should stop listening to propaganda mate and concentrate on your own problems. If you want trump that’s your business but we don’t have to let him speak to our parliament that’s our business