LONDON — The Speaker of United Kingdom’s House of Commons John Bercow strongly opposes letting U.S. President Donald Trump address Parliament during a state visit to the U.K.
Trump is due to visit Britain later this year as the guest of Queen Elizabeth II.
Bercow is one of the Parliamentary officials who would have to agree on an invitation by a foreign dignitary to address lawmakers and peers.
“Before the imposition of the migrant ban, I would myself have been strongly opposed to an address by President Trump in Westminster Hall. After the imposition of the migrant ban by President Trump, I am even more strongly opposed to an address by President Trump in Westminster Hall,” Bercow said.
The foreign dignitaries are given the honor of an address to both houses of Parliament includes Nelson Mandela and Trump’s predecessor, President Barack Obama.
When Bercow said although Britain values its relationship with the U.S., “our opposition to racism and to sexism, and our support for equality before the law and an independent judiciary, are hugely important considerations,” he was cheered by lawmakers.
More than 1.8 million people in Britain have signed a petition opposing the Trump’s state visit and 150 lawmakers have signed a symbolic motion calling for Trump not to be given the honor of speaking in parliament. The lawmakers will be debating on Feb. 20.
Under British law, parliament has to debate any petition that gathers 100,000 signatures or more.