Don’t ‘dump Trump’ on Birmingham, say MPs
ANTI-TRUMP campaigners are promising to stage “the UK’s biggest ever protest” if the US President visits Birmingham.
Donald Trump will make a full state visit to the UK, despite a petition against it signed by 1.85 million people, the Government this week announced.
But it was reported this week that the President could come to the NEC in Birmingham because of fears he would face demonstrations in London.
However, campaigners here have now said he should stay in London.
The Foreign Office this week published its official response to the national petition, confirming the visit would happen.
Responding to the announcement, Birmingham MP Liam Byrne, MP for Hodge Hill, said: “Let’s keep the President’s state visit short, sweet – and in the capital.
“We don’t need his nasty language of division and discord here in Birmingham thanks very much.
“My message to Theresa May is simple – don’t dump Trump on us!”
Mr Byrne has now launched another petition to ban the US President from the city, following the reports that it could be switched from London to the Midlands to avoid a public backlash in the capital.
And campaigners calling themselves the Stop Trump Coalition, including MP Shabana Mahmood (Lab Birmingham Ladywood) and Birmingham campaigner Salma Yaqoob, promised to “take to the streets in our thousands” in a massive protest if he does come. Ms Mahmood said: “Birmingham is a wonderfully diverse city, home to people of every background, every faith – President Trump with his hateful and divisive rhetoric, policies and Muslim ban is not welcome here.”
Ms Yaqoob said: “If Donald Trump comes to the great city of Birmingham, our diverse communities will take to the streets in our thousands and show him what we think about his misogyny, racism and Islamophobia.”
Kerry Jenkins, Labour councillor for Hall Green Ward, Birmingham, said: “Birmingham is a diverse and tolerant city that welcomes visitors from around the world but I really hope that Donald Trump is not welcome here. He is a racist and a misogynist who is using his power to divide.
“If these rumours are proven I will be calling on all colleagues and citizens to stand together and demonstrate as we have done many times before in our great city when far right politics has reared its ugly head.”
The Foreign Office said that no decisions had yet been made about where the President would go or the dates of the visit. The NEC said it had not been approached.