Fowler could trump Bercow in US visit row

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump could still speak at Parliament after the Lords Speaker said he would “keep an open mind” about any such request.

Lord Fowler (pictured), the former MP for Sutton Coldfield, said Commons Speaker John Bercow failed to consult him before announcing Mr Trump was banned from addressing MPs. Mr Bercow said he did not want the President to address Parliament when he makes a state visit this year. But former Conservative MP Norman Fowl- er, Mr Bercow’s equivalent in the Lords, made it clear he wasn’t happy about the announcement.

Lord Fowler said either of the speakers had a veto over allowing Mr Trump to speak in Parliament’s Westminster Hall. But he said he would consider a request to speak elsewhere.

In a thinly veiled rebuke to Mr Bercow, Lord Fowler said: “I don’t intend to argue the case for or against Mr Trump’s visit. That is not my role as Speaker.” But he told peers: “My view is that I will keep an open mind and consider any request from Mr Trump to address Parliament if and when it is made.” And he revealed Mr Bercow had apologised to him for announcing that Mr Trump was banned from Westminster Hall. He said: “I should make it clear I was not consulted on that decision or its timing. However, the Speaker contacted me this morning. He told me that while he maintained his view on the issue he was genuinely sorry for failing to consult with me. Obviously I accepted that apology.”

The procedure for approving speeches to Parliament meant either the Commons or Lord Speakers could “effectively veto any proposals for a visiting leader to address Parliament, at least as far as Westminster Hall is concerned,” Lord Fowler said.