The Speaker of the House of Commons has branded Donald Trump ‘racist and sexist’ and said he should be banned from addressing the British parliament during his state visit this year.
John Bercow’s remarks – made to MPs in the Commons chamber yesterday – have triggered a constitutional row in the UK, split opinion among British politicians, and made him the subject of serious criticism for abusing his role.
In Britain, the Speaker is supposed to be politically neutral and scrupulously objective at all times – job requirements which the attention-seeking Bercow has often struggled to fulfil since he took up the post in 2009. But his unprecedented intervention yesterday has embarrassed the British prime minister, Theresa May and, some believe, risks damaging future US-UK relations while Trump is President.
Until yesterday, the possibility had existed that Trump – like other world leaders who visit the UK – might be granted the honour of addressing members of the House of Commons and House of Lords in Westminster Hall, the oldest part of the Palace of Westminster dating back to 1097. However, this had not been confirmed and Trump’s itinerary when he does visit remains unknown.
But pre-empting this as he spoke to MPs yesterday, Bercow said he would oppose Trump’s potential Westminster Hall speech because he objected to his travel ban.
Bercow said: ‘Before the imposition of the migrant ban I would myself have been strongly opposed to an address by Mr 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.’
He added: ‘We value our relationship with the US … However, as far as this place is concerned, I feel very strongly that our opposition to racism, and to sexism, and our support for equality before the law and an independent judiciary are important considerations in the House of Commons.’
Bercow also said that addressing Parliament during a state visit is ‘not an automatic right, it is an earned honour.’
His comments were greeted with applause from Scottish National Party MPs, but others were quick to accuse Bercow of hypocrisy, pointing out that he welcomed the president of China to address parliament in 2015 and the emir of Kuwait in 2012 – countries with appalling human rights records.
Bercow is also a former member of the notorious right-wing Monday Club, in particular taking a brief interest in the early 1980s in its Immigration and Repatriation Committee.
