Scrapping Trump visit ‘would hurt Britain and help Putin’
As 2,000 protest against President outside Commons, MP warns:
BANNING Donald Trump would be against the national interest and only benefit Vladimir Putin because it would ‘divide the West’, MPs said yesterday.
The warnings came during fierce clashes in a debate on whether the US President should be given a state visit to Britain.
Sir Simon Burns said a ban would ‘isolate’ the UK and make it ‘less influential’.
The ex-Tory minister and Hillary Clinton supporter added it was a ‘no brainer’ and Mr Trump’s ‘grotesque characteristics’ should not undermine UK-US relations.
Foreign Office Minister Alan Duncan defended Theresa May’s invitation to the President, saying a state visit was the ‘most important diplomatic tool’ in an ‘increasingly dangerous world’.
He said working closely with allies was of ‘critical importance’ and the Government
‘There will be smiles all round in the Kremlin’
was placing the national interest ‘at the heart’ of its decisions.
As thousands gathered at Parliament Square to protest against Mr Trump’s visit and others gathered in Glasgow, Sir Alan declared ‘diplomacy matters’. He added: ‘The visit should happen and it will happen.’
Around 100 people in Glasgow’s Buchanan Street held placards with slogans including ‘We Hate Trump’.
Beth Wilson, 17 said: ‘What he stands for, I feel isn’t welcome in this country.’
The three-hour Westminster debate was triggered by two petitions – one against the state visit, with 1.85million signatures, and one in favour, backed by 311,000.
Sir Simon said Britain ‘cannot afford to be isolated and ignore our friends’ in the wake of Brexit.
He added: ‘We would become isolated, we would become less influential and it would not be in our national interest.’
Tory MP James Cartlidge said the UK would ‘gain nothing’ if it withdraws the offer of the visit.
He said: ‘There is one man who will win and that is Vladimir Putin. There will be smiles all round in the Kremlin because the one thing they want in the Kremlin above all else is to divide the West.’
Senior Tory Julian Lewis said castigating the US President would encourage him to ‘retreat into a bunker’ away from Nato, when military support for Europe could stop another world war.
On the opposing side, MPs said ministers should not ‘sell our souls’ by allowing Mr Trump to come to Westminster and urged Mrs May to drop the invitation.
MPs accused Mr Trump of being ‘petulant’ with a ‘protozoan capacity for intellect’, a ‘disgusting, immoral’ man and a ‘bigot’.
In a packed Westminster Hall debate, they said the Queen had been put in a ‘very difficult position’. As MPs debated, chants were heard from the 2,000-plus protesters. They were addressed by Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott who condemned the ‘dark shadow of racism’.
Nationalist MP Alex Salmond accused Mrs May of ‘fawning subservience’. Labour MP Paul Flynn warned that America was becoming ‘Orwellian’ under Mr Trump as he peddled lies as truths.
Labour MP Naz Shah said: ‘By rolling out the red carpet, we are endorsing all his views.’
Yesterday Mr Trump named Lieutenant General HR McMaster as his new national security adviser to replace Michael Flynn, who was ousted last week.