UK invite to Trump stays despite anger
BRITAIN: American President Donald Trump’s state visit to Britain will go ahead despite a 1.8 million-strong petition, more noisy protests and MPs’ warnings, the government says.
As thousands of protesters gathered in Parliament Square yesterday, MPs in Westminster Hall called on ministers to heed the ‘‘Greek chorus of disapproval’’ and avoid ‘‘fawning subservience’’ to Trump.
In the time-limited debate, about a dozen backbenchers spoke in favour of the petition to downgrade Trump’s visit, but Foreign Office Minister Sir Alan Duncan insisted the visit ‘‘should happen, the visit will happen’’.
He called on Britain to ‘‘extend a polite and generous welcome’’ to Trump during his state visit in 2017, during which he will be hosted by the Queen.
Duncan said the ‘‘rare and prestigious’’ occasions were Britain’s ‘‘most important diplomatic tool’’.
‘‘In the light of America’s absolutely pivotal role, we believe it entirely right that we should use all the tools at our disposal to build common ground with President Trump,’’ he told parliament.
But his calls for a cordial state visit are unlikely to be observed by those who attended the rally outside parliament.
Scores of people carried signs and placards reading ‘‘Special Relationship: Just say no’’, and ‘‘No to racism; no to Trump’’, and chanted ‘‘No Trump, no Brexit; no racist EU exit’’.
Veteran Labour MP Paul Flynn, leading the debate in parliament, called on ministers to listen to the demonstrators and downgrade the visit.
He said Trump’s intellectual capacity was ‘‘protozoan’’, likened his behaviour to that of a ‘‘petulant child’’, and urged ministers to avoid making the mistakes of the past, when ‘‘very unsavoury characters’’ were invited on state visits.
SNP former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond also hit out at the visit.
‘‘As an example of fawning subservience . . . the prime minister’s holding hands across the ocean visit would be difficult to match,’’ he said.
’’What exactly are the shared values that this House, this country, would hope to have with President Trump?’’ Salmond asked.
But several Conservative MPs warned that Britain and the Queen would look foolish if the invitation was rescinded.
James Cartlidge said there would be ‘‘smiles all round in the Kremlin’’ if the UK withdrew its offer.
Fellow Conservative Sir Simon Burns said it was a ‘‘no-brainer’’ that the invitation should stand, as a post-Brexit Britain would need to keep America close. – PA