Donald Trump will most likely be denied an honour during his visit to the UK after one British politician voiced his opposition.
Here, at Mamamia, we called on our own Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, to stand up to the US president, a la Hugh Grant’s character in classic romantic comedy Love Actually, after what was revealed to be an embarrassing phone call last week.
Now it seems UK’s speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, actually has, in a speech that earned him cheers and applause from his fellow members of parliament.
[MoreStories]
Bercow cited Trump’s “racism” and “sexism” as reasons he was “strongly opposed” to the president delivering a speech to both houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall, an honour that was first extended to Barack Obama in 2011, The Washington Post reports.
"We value our relationship with the United States. If a state visit takes place, that is way beyond and above the pay grade of the speaker," Bercow said.
"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 hugely important considerations in the House of Commons."
Bercow and two others are responsible for deciding if Trump should speak at the historic building.
However, as is the case with Australia's federal and state speakers, the role normally requires the politician to remain politically impartial, making his outburst even more glorious.
Bercow said Trump's attempt to ban of travellers from seven majority-Muslim countries was one of the reasons he would not extend an invitation to the US president.
"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," he said.
Meryl Streep is another prominent figure standing up to Trump. The Mamamia Out Loud team discuss her Golden Globes Speech. (Post continues below.)
As the incoming US president, Trump accepted an invitation extended by Queen Elizabeth II to visit the United Kingdom this year.
However, Prime Minister Theresa May has come under pressure to take back the offer after 1.8 million people signed a petition to rescind the invitation.
UK politicians will debate the issue later this month, but no binding decision will come out of it.
We can only hope this will bring more applause-worthy outbursts from politicians standing up to Trump.
Top Comments
1.8 million people is considerable opposition, though Teresa May will probably just ignore it, like when over a million marched in the biggest ever demonstration in the UK to oppose the Iraq invasion and Tony Blair just ignored them and did as he pleased. 'Democracy' at work.
Bercow is a hypocrite. He was quite happy for Middle Eastern despots to address Parliament, besides, as Speaker of The House, he is supposed to be politically neutral. There are now calls for Bercow to be sacked.
Tweets out love and sympathy for brutal Cuban dictator who murdered, tortured and improsioned without trial tens of thousands of his own citizens; but says Trump is bad.
One of his first acts as speaker was to host leaders from North Korea.