Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Trump gets a no-frills visit to UK
LIB DEM SPOKESWOMAN
DONALD Trump will come to Britain next year, but without the pomp and ceremony of the planned state visit which sparked widespread outrage.
And it means the US president will not get to stay with the Queen during the scaled-down trip, which is likely to be part of an international tour rather than one focused solely on the UK.
Theresa May had triggered fury when she invited Mr Trump on a state visit after he was elected – more than 1.8 million Brits signed a petition against hosting a leader with dubious views on equality, civil rights and women.
Lib Dem Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Jo Swinson MP said: “It is entirely right that when Donald Trump visits he will not be given red carpet treatment.
“He should be under no impression that the UK endorses his abhorrent views. If Trump makes a normal visit in the future, Theresa May must stand up for our fundamental values and use it to pile pressure on him to move away from his destructive positions on climate change, civil rights and foreign affairs.” Jeremy Corbyn welcomed the pared-back visit and renewed his offer to take Mr Trump to a local mosque to help him understand Muslim culture.
A spokesman for the Labour leader said: “Jeremy would like to introduce him to different communities in Britain and make the case against many of the things Mr Trump is doing domestically and internationally.”
Plans for the trip, which will probably take place early next year, are being discussed by diplomats, it was reported yesterday. It will focus on global security issues such as North Korea.
After Mrs May invited Mr Trump on a state trip, there were threats of protests.
Commons Speaker John Bercow later said the President should not be allowed to address the Commons on any visit.
But No10 insisted the state visit will go ahead at some stage.
A Downing Street spokesman said: “Our position has not changed… an offer has been extended and Mr Trump accepted. Exact dates have not been arranged.”