Scrap Trump’s state visit, demands London mayor

Sadiq Khan blasts US President’s policies

Donald Trump’s “cruel and shameful” policies mean he should not be granted a state visit, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said as MPs prepared to debate the US President’s forthcoming trip to the UK.

Today MPs will debate rival petitions on the invitation extended by Theresa May to the president to make a state visit while protesters will gather outside Parliament to speak out against Mr Trump.

Mr Khan, above right, who is a Muslim, told ITV’s Peston on Sunday: “I love America, I love Americans and I believe the special relationship is a good one and one that’s here to stay.

“But when you’re mates with somebody, when you’ve got a special relationship, of course you are side-by-side with them in times of adversity but when they are wrong you call them out.”

He added: “I think this ban on people from seven Muslim-majority countries, ending the refugee programme is cruel and it’s shameful.

“In those circumstances we shouldn’t be rolling out the red carpet.”

Mrs May has been criticised for offering Mr Trump a state visit too soon in his already highly controversial presidency.

Barack Obama only received an invitation after 758 days, while it took 978 days before his predecessor, George W Bush, was offered a state visit, compared with seven days for Mr Trump.

Tory MP Sir Nicholas Soames defended the invitation, even though Mr Trump’s visit will be “very controversial”.

He told the same programme: “I think the Prime Minister was absolutely right to do this, I think this is very important and I think President Trump will make a state visit here.

“It will be very controversial but it’s very important that he does.”

MPs will debate the petition – signed by more than 1.85 million people – in Westminster Hall today.

It calls for the visit to be stripped of the trappings of a state occasion in order to avoid causing “embarrassment” to the Queen.

They will also consider a rival petition, backed by 311,000 signatories, demanding that the visit goes ahead.

While the debate proceeds, protesters will gather for a rally in Parliament Square which organisers claim will attract more than 20,000 people.

Picture: AP. President Trump throws a cap into the crowd at a rally in Melbourne, Florida, at the weekend.