Just five MPs back bid to oust Bercow over Trump storm
As 2,000 protest against President outside Commons, MP warns:
AN attempt to get rid of Commons Speaker John Bercow was in danger of ‘fizzling out’ last night as it emerged just five MPs had signed a motion of no confidence in him.
Former Tory minister James Duddridge tabled the Commons motion this month after Mr Bercow criticised Donald Trump when it was suggested the US President would make a state visit.
Rebel MPs believed they had the support of at least ten Tories, with one report claiming as many as 150 could join the bid to axe Mr Bercow. The Government also indicated it would not try to save him, with sources saying ministers would be able to vote against the Speaker.
But as MPs returned from the half-term recess yesterday, it was revealed that just five Tories had publicly backed the call for him to go. Mr Duddridge admitted that too few MPs were willing to ‘put their necks on the line’, but said the fight to oust Mr Bercow was not over.
An ICM poll yesterday found that more members of the public want Mr Bercow to go than want him to stay.
Some 3 per cent agreed that he ‘should resign or be removed as Speaker because he is not impartial’, while 30 per cent said he should stay.
But former SNP leader Alex Salmond said MPs from all parties would stop him being ‘removed’, adding: ‘To allow this process to be the pretext for another assault on the Speaker is beyond madness.’
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 Sir 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 was placing the national interest ‘at the heart’ of its decisions.
As thousands gathered at Parliament Square to protest against Mr Trump’s visit, Sir Alan declared ‘diplomacy matters’. He added: ‘The visit should happen and it will happen.’
The three-hour 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.
‘They want the UK and the US to be divided, they don’t want a strong transatlantic partnership.’
Senior Tory Julian Lewis said castigating Mr Trump would encourage him to ‘retreat into a bunker’ away from Nato. He warned MPs could not indulge their opinions when US 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 ‘disgusting immoral’ with a ‘protozoan capacity for intellect’ and a ‘bigot’. In the packed debate, they said the Queen had been put in a ‘very difficult position’ and the ‘theme put forward by Trump is that lies are the truth’.
As MPs debated, chants were heard from the 2,000-plus protest- ers. They were addressed by Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott who condemned the ‘dark shadow of racism and anti-immigrant sentiment’.
SNP MP Alex Salmond accused Mrs May of ‘fawning subservience’. Labour MP Paul Flynn warned America was becoming ‘Orwellian’ under Mr Trump as he peddled lies as truths. Labour MP Naz Shah said Mr Trump’s presidency has been ‘chilling’, adding: ‘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.
‘There will be smiles all round in the Kremlin’